Nations Pride ticks off another country with Canadian International victory

Nations Pride continued Godolphin’s fine record in Canada as he notched a third G1 win when beating Royal Champion in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Sunday.

The Teofilo colt has now been successful in five different countries and could yet add more stamps to his passport over the coming months, with the Bahrain International Trophy his prime objective ahead of a possible trip to Hong Kong.

With The Moonlight ran well on the same Woodbine card when filling the runner-up spot in the E P Taylor Stakes. The full-sister to Dream Castle has now finished second at G1 level three times in North America, adding to a pair of G2 wins at Meydan earlier this year.

Master Of The Seas endured a narrow defeat in G1 company for the second time in his career as he was collared on the line by Up To The Mark in the Turf Mile at Keeneland on Saturday. The five-year-old, who was beaten a short-head in the 2021 2,000 Guineas, could yet remain in the US to prepare for a potential Breeders’ Cup Mile bid.

Wet weather played havoc with the racing at Aqueduct over the weekend, with Measured Time and Star Of Mystery missing out after their races were taken off the turf and Rebel’s Romance failing to run to form on soft ground. Two-year-old filly Central Avenue had no issue with a sloppy track as she finished second in the G1 Frizette Stakes.

Lemon Pop produced a stunning display on his first appearance since disappointing in the Dubai Golden Shaheen as he routed the field in the NAR G1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai in Japan on Monday, taking his record to nine wins from 13 starts.

In Australia, Zardozi set herself up for a possible tilt at the VRC Oaks when flashing home to take the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington, with Tamerlane enjoying Listed success on the same card.

Cylinder and In Secret will provide Godolphin with two live chances in the world’s richest sprint race on turf, The Everest at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

All eyes will be on Keeneland as Mawj makes her first appearance since winning the 1,000 Guineas in the same day’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. First Mission, who missed the Preakness Stakes through a late injury, also makes an eagerly awaited return to action in the following race.