Pattison Canadian International Stakes

10.44 Woodbine

Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner $858,150

Advice: 2 pts win Reliable Man (7/2 general)

Lay Time: Capped off progressive season with Group 3 win at Windsor over 10f (soft) and solid effort when beaten just a head at Newbury latest but this tougher than both those occasions and been well held on only try at Group 1 company.

Dandino: Won the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket for James Given in May and then moved to Nicky Henderson yard and back to Fanshawe when not taking to schooling over hurdles; Not quite gone on from his fair comeback in terms of winning this year barring latest Grade 3 but still shown decent form and should go well.

Forte Del Marmi: Ex Luca – Cumani who had slowly progressed to something like form of old, winning well over 10f here in Grade 2 and then coming slightly unlucky third in Northern Dancer behind Al Khali and Wigmore Hall; Needs more than that to be getting seriously involved here.

Scalo: Might do better for addition of blinkers and courtside contender on form, but held by Forte De Marmi, Al Khali and Wigmore Hall on latest form; Hard to see him reversing that.

Prince Will I Am: Far better than latest form figure suggests – needs much further and that was his first run this year – but outclassed on all other turf form; Look elsewhere.

Wigmore Hall: Made it two from two here and two wins of the Northern Dance over C&D when holding off Al Khali and Forte Del Marmi really gamely from the front; Needs more here in harder race but respected nonetheless.

Reliable Man: Not been quite the same horse this year until pair of fourths in showpiece events at Ascot in midsummer; Beaten at Mainsons Laffite but that by horse who’s best fresh (useful animal in own right) and should improve a lot for that outing; Clear form pick and should go well.

Joshua Tree: Winner in 2010 for Ballydoyle and then second last year; Largely progressive this season before runner up finish to Fiorente in Princess Of Wales’s Stakes; Won the Prix Kergolay in fair style and once again solid effort when third in Prix Foy; No reason why he can’t go well.

Al Khali: One of more talented US turf horses but frustrating, as his hold up style can make life difficult around several of the tight turf tracks here, as has been the case the last twice; Beaten fair and square by Wigmore Hall latest and this is harder.

Imperial Monarch: Won three of four starts and may well be unbeaten had it not been for some awful interference in Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly; Put that right with game win in Grand Prix De Paris and should go well, although worth noting that he’s been off for 92 days and this is fastest ground he’s ever run on; Still major form chance but would have wanted the rain to fall.

Air Support: Grade 2 winner at Belmont droping in class, but that form not upto much back up in trip and others make more appeal.

VERDICT: A strong renewal thanks to the presence of 4 European Group/Grade 1 winners with RELIABLE MAN just getting the vote over Imperial Monarch on the basis of his slightly bigger price, along with the fact that not as much rain has fallen as the favourite would have ideally liked. Joshua Tree, with a win and a second in this race, can’t be ignored, while Dandino and Wigmore Hall look a step behind those two.