Nations Pride proves a fitting winner of G1 Canadian International

Nations Pride added another major victory to his global profile as he collared Royal Champion close home in the G1 Canadian International at Woodbine, Canada, on Sunday, 8 October.

The Teofilo colt had previously notched top-level wins in last season’s Saratoga Derby and the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Germany on his latest outing in July, in addition to Graded Stakes success at Meydan and Aqueduct.

Royal Champion set out to make the 10-furlong showpiece a good test and soon opened up a four-length lead under James Doyle, with Nations Pride moving up to a clear second for William Buick after the first quarter-mile.

Nations Pride took slightly closer order leaving the back but still had significant ground to make up as the leader kicked for home passing the two-furlong pole. Royal Champion found more in front but his advantage was gradually eroded by Nations Pride, who stayed on gamely to hit the front just inside the final half-furlong before going away to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I was always happy with where William [Buick] had Nations Pride, but James [Doyle] is always dangerous in front and he was riding his own race. The one thing Nations Pride has is acceleration, but the rain here in the last 24 hours just blunted his finishing speed. Class took over in the end.

“Horses like Nations Pride and Modern Games are special and they get a worldwide fanbase as well. Full credit to the team that travel with them, they get to know the horses and look after them so well.”

“We won’t go to the Breeders’ Cup. We don’t think he stretches out that mile and a half, so we’ll take him to Bahrain, and then contemplate if Hong Kong might suit him. But our immediate target will be the Bahrain Trophy.”

William Buick added: “I knew with Nations Pride I had a pretty good horse, so it was just about getting everything right. The track was a bit of a concern, the yielding surface, but he really showed how versatile he is and he’s a high-class horse.”