Woodbine

THE attention switches to Canada this weekend with an Irish-trained runner in the two-year-old Grade 1 tomorrow night as Joseph O’Brien sends over Naas winner Vitalogy who will be the mount of Jamie Spencer in the Summer Stakes.

Tonight’s Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes looks an ideal opportunity for the Godolphin runner Old Persian to get another top-level success with only five rivals taking him on. The four-year-old Dubawi colt started off 2019 with two victories at Meydan, topped by the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Old Persian has since run seventh in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom and third in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin in Hoppegarten where he closed to finish a length behind the winner French King and a head behind runner-up Communique. Connections expect the long straight here to suit him.

Among the five rivals is the strong local contender Tiz A Slam who has won three consecutive stakes race over a mile and a half, including the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes and Singspiel Stakes on his home turf. The Roger Attfield colt has led all the way on his last three outings and set a course record in the Nijinsky.

William Haggas has two runners on the card and sends Magnetic Charm, owned by Queen Elizabeth, for the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes for fillies where she takes on favourite Competitionofideas from Chad Brown’s powerful yard. She won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last year, was third in the Beverly D last time out behind Sistercharlie and sets the standard.

Awesometank (John Egan) represents Haggas in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile. The Goodwood listed winner put up a fine performance to be beaten by three lengths by US turf star Sistercharlie in the Grade 1 Beverly D in Arlington last month.

Mark Casse’s Grade 1 winner Got Stormy is the hot-favourite after her impressive win in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap in Saratoga over fellow runner Raging Bull.

The two Grade 1s tomorrow, the Natalma and Summer Stakes, are Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup. The Natalma Stakes for fillies over a mile has Mark Johnston’s Siyouni filly Walk In Marakesh. She is a three-time winner including a listed race at Sandown in July and was third last time in the Group 2 Prix Calvados in Deauville. The Summer Stakes a mile for colts has been targeted by Joseph O’Brien’s Vitology who won his maiden in Naas and was fourth in the Acomb at York. He now races in the colours of Qatar Racing Limited and Marc Detampel.