Turf Digest:JOSHUA TREE landed a famous win for Aidan O'Brien in the Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine on Saturday night. Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue, the Irish colt – last seen finishing fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster – led home a one-two-three for European runners in the Grade One event over a mile and a half, a race part of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and you're in' series.
O’Donoghue’s mount took over from the pace-setting Fifty Proof with a couple of furlongs to run and just held the French-trained Mores Wells by a head, with the Barry Hills-trained Redwood just behind in third.
The success means automatic entry to next month’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for Joshua Tree. “It’s amazing. He was prepared for today and he was impeccably trained for this race by Aidan O’Brien,” O’Donoghue said.
“This is very important to me and means an awful lot. I really owe the owners a lot. They put their trust in me to come over here and ride this horse, and he has been trained specifically for this race by Aidan.
“He knew he was the right type of horse and missed the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to come here.”
It was OBriens second International winner after Balingarry in 2002.
There was also a red-letter moment for Newmarket trainer Rae Guest as he sent out his filly Serious Attitude to claim the Grade One Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs.
Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Guest’s charge showed a tremendous turn of foot to sweep from the rear and score in style from Grand Adventure. She is now guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
In a European clean sweep of the big races on the card, Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Reggane came from last to first to take the EP Taylor Stakes, booking a place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Halford to decide after work-out
MICHAEL HALFORD will give Casamento a work-out this morning before deciding whether to supplement the Beresford Stakes winner for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.
If the Co Kildare trainer is satisfied all is well with Sheikh Mohammed’s colt then he will add him to the field for the Town Moor Group One over a mile. “He’s well, he’ll work in the morning and if we’re happy with him he’ll be supplemented for the Racing Post,” said Halford.
Kevin Prendergast reports Dunboyne Express to be on course for the Doncaster feature. The colt, who has the same sire – Shamardal – as Casamento, takes an unbeaten record to England. He has won both his starts in tremendous style, although he has not been seen since lifting the Group Three Anglesey Stakes by eight lengths at the Curragh in July.
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