Desert Encounter completes four-timer with repeat win in Canadian International

Desert Encounter was slow out of the stalls but finished fastest of them all to win the Pattison Canadian International for the second year in a row at Woodbine on Saturday, completing a four-timer in the process.

The admirable David Simcock-trained seven-year-old beat Thundering Blue to win last year's Grade 1 and had won his last three starts – all Group 3s – at Goodwood, Windsor and Newbury.

Abdulla Al Mansoori's star was at his best on his return to Canada, making up ground steadily for Andrea Atzeni after his tardy start. He was last entering the straight, but the 6-4 shot weaved his way through the field stylishly and quickened well when asked by Atzeni to beat Alounak by half a length. King Power Racing's Pivoine finished fourth.

It was Atzeni's first time riding Desert Encounter since the partnership's success in the race a year ago.

"The plan was to jump slow, and he probably jumped a stride slower than I would have liked," Atzeni said. "But it's a mile and a half, it's a long way, it's a small field. So we were never panicking. The plan was always to sit last and come through them so I wasn't too worried about it.

"He's a good horse, he likes it here. He loves the ground. And I think he's actually a better horse than he was last year.

"Coming into the straight, I had options. I could have gone around them, but I decided to go inside. I thought [Ziyad] was the one to beat, and I tracked him up through the straight and picked him up very nicely. He was the best horse in the race."

Mansoori's racing manager, Philip Robinson, didn't rule out another return trip to Woodbine in 2020 and a chance to join Joshua Tree as the only three-time winner of the Canadian International. Joshua Tree won the race in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

"It would be lovely," Robinson said. "I dare say if he's still a happy horse like he is now, for sure, he'll be back. He enjoys it here. Why not?

"The last three or four races, he's just never stopped improving. You expect it maybe from a four or five-year-old, but I think mentally he's improving so much. He's enjoying his racing and in a very happy place at this moment."

In the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at the same Woodbine fixture, Atzeni was fourth on the Simon Crisford-trained Imperial Charm, who finished two and a quarter lengths behind winner Starship Jubilee.

The Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes was won by a head by the Michael Keogh-trained City Boy, with the Fozzy Stack-trained Woody Creek staying on in the final furlong for fifth.

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