Toronto, ON (Best E Casino) - The 70th running of the $2 million Canadian International has attracted a field of 12 turf runners and the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes has a field of 10 fillies and mares set to compete on the grass Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.
The 3-1 morning-line favorite for the International is Quijano of Germany. The five-year-old will be ridden by Andrasch Starke from the far outside post. Trained by Peter Schiergen, Quijano has won 12 of 15 lifetime races, including a win in his last start on September 2.
Local runner Sky Conqueror is the 4-1 second choice in the program. Sky Conqueror won the 2006 Sovereign Award as Canada's champion turf horse. Javier Castellano comes north to ride the five-year-old from post four.
Trained by Darwin Banach for owner Bill Sorokolit, Sky Conqueror has earned more than $1.8 million in 19 career starts win seven victories. He is a two- time winner of the Northern Dancer Stakes here and was third in last year's International.
"We might be in a position where he will be overlooked after finishing third in the Nijinsky (Stakes, August 26) and then eighth in the Mile," said Banach. "It's a different role for him to be in. Usually, everyone is thinking about his late kick and when he'll come charging. But he's not the type you want to overlook for a minute."
Ask, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, is the 6-1 third pick in the morning-line and will break from post nine with jockey Ryan Moore. The four-year-old has won both of his starts this year and can give his trainer another win in this event. Stoute won here in 1996 with Singspiel.
Here is the complete field for the 1 1/2 mile race in post position order: Marsh Side, Emma-Jayne Wilson; Oracle West, John Murtagh; Windward Islands, Todd Kabel; Sky Conqueror, Javier Castellano; Stream of Gold, Eddie Castro; Irish Wells, Olivier Peslier; Honolulu, Michael Kinane; Cloudy's Knight, Ramsey Zimmerman; Ask, Ryan Moore; Linda's Lad, John Velazquez; Sunriver, Garrett Gomez and Quijano, Andrasch Starke.
The field for 1 1/4 mile E.P. Taylor Stakes is topped by three-year-old Sealy Hill. The filly swept the Canadian Triple Tiara for three-year-old females.
Sealy Hill is owned by Melnyk Racing and trained by Mark Casse. She won the Woodbine Oaks, Bison City Stakes and the Wonder Where Stakes. Initially she was disqualified to third in the Bison City. An appeal hearing reversed the disqualification to give her the Triple Tiara.
Sealy Hill will start from post three in the ten horse field with Patrick Husbands again in the saddle. In her last start, Sealy hill was second to Essential Edge in the Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.
Essential Edge will break from post eight with Jono Jones riding. Owned by Chiefswood Stable, the four-year-old has earned nearly $500,000.
Here is the complete field for the $1 million Taylor Stakes: Elle Runaway, Eddie Castro; The Niagara Queen, Emma-Jayne Wilson; Sealy Hill, Patrick Husbands; Mrs. Lindsay, John Murtagh; Four Sins, Michael Kinane; Sans Souci Island, Mike Smith; Safari Queen, John Velazquez; Essential Edge, Jono Jones; Hostess, Channing Hill and Barancella, Javier Castellano.
The E.P Taylor Stakes has a scheduled post-time of 2:59 p.m. (et) and the Canadian International is set for 4:05 p.m.