SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Grade One Pattison Canadian International, Canada’s showpiece event, will be shown live and free to watch on Racing UK on Sunday, when Brown Panther and Hillstar will fly the flag for Britain. The CAN $1million (c.£550,000) turf race is run over a mile and a half and has been recently dominated by European horses, with 10 of the last 15 winners hailing from this continent.
All eyes will be on Brown Panther as he bids to extend that European record for owner, retired football legend Michael Owen. The Tom Dascombe-trained six-year-old has won 10 of his 24 starts, and has arrived in Toronto on the back of a breathtaking score in the Group One Irish St Leger at The Curragh last month. Owen, who will be making the trip to Canada, said: “I’ve had to rejig my diary to see him in Canada and it could be tight with the connections. I land around midday and then my flight back is at 8pm, but I’d never forgive myself if he won and I wasn’t there to see it!”
Hillstar, representing Sir Michael Stoute, finished second to Brown Panther in May and has not been out of the first two on his last five starts.
The 77th edition of the Canadian International is the highlight of three races to be broadcast on Racing UK and is due off at 8.31pm (BST). The lucrative card also includes the $500,000 Grade One E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares, which is due off at 10.41pm. The turf race has attracted the Charlie Hills-trained Just The Judge, Dascombe’s Wall Of Sound, and Odeliz, from the Karl Burke yard, while France is represented by the Andre Fabre-trained Eyeful.
In addition, Racing UK is showing the $300,000 Grade Two Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upwards at 9.36pm. Caspar Netscher, trained by David Simcock, represents Britain and was last seen finishing fifth in the Group Three John Guest Bengough at Ascot.
The programme gets underway at 8pm, and Angus McNae and James Willoughby will be guiding viewers through the action.
