By Joe Bianca
The top three finishers from the GI Northern Dancer S. will face off against a strong quartet of European shippers in an intriguing renewal of the GI Pattison Canadian International S. Sunday at Woodbine.
The Pizza Man (English Channel) had only found the mark once in seven starts since conquering the GI Arlington Million last term, but scored a brave tally in the Northern Dancer, outgaming Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) and World Approval (Northern Afleet) in a three-way photo. That race featured an extremely slow pace and Wake Forest was the only runner to make up any significant ground in the lane.
None of those three runners is below 8-1 on the International morning line, which speaks to the quality of the European contingent shipping in for this $1 million challenge.
Pegged as the narrow favorite is Coolmore's Idaho (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) winner of the G2 Betway Great Voltigeur S. Aug. 17 at York and narrow runner-up in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby June 25 at The Curragh. The Aidan O'Brien trainee is the lone 3-year-old in the field and was last seen unseating the rider at odds-on in the G1 Ladbrokes St. Leger S. Sept. 10 at Doncaster.
A four-length victor of the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup while in the care of Kris Lees, Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) will make his stateside debut after going three-for-three in Germany this season for new trainer Andreas Wohler, including a facile triumph in the G1 GP von Berlin Aug. 14 at Hoppegarten.
Her Majesty the Queen will be represented by Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the 4-year-old captured a trio of group stakes this spring, including the G2 Hardwicke S. June 18 at Ascot. Third in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. there July 23, Dartmouth comes in off a close second in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Sept. 17 at Newbury.
Completing the European set is Flaxman Holdings' Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Hero of the G1 Juddmonte Prix de Paris last summer, he was second at 16-1 in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud July 3 before disappointing when finishing fifth in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth and third at 7-10 in the G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville last out Aug. 28.
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