Silawi made the first Canadian International Stakes (G1T) in two years a race to remember, outlasting a furiously closing Tawny Port by a nose in a cliffhanger of a finish Oct. 4 at Woodbine.
The International, the first top-level score of Silawi's career, provides the fast-growing Wathnan Racing operation its second North American grade 1 winner.
The less-fancied of Wathnan Racing's two entries, Silawi went off at 10-1 in his first overseas venture, joining Wathnan's Singspiel Stakes (G3T) victor Haunted Dream. The 5-year-old Dubawi gelding was exiting his best performance to date in England, a front-running group 3 triumph at Royal Windsor. Wathnan had signed the ticket on Silawi, a son of the multiple group 1-winning Monsun mare Silasol, for $401,796 at the 2023 Arqana Arc Sale.
Cruising to an unassuming lead under jockey Faleh Bughenaim, Silawi raced comfortably through fractions of :23.69, :47.30, and 1:12. Well in hand, Silawi widened his advantage into the far turn, and with plenty left in the reserves, bounded clear at the top of the long Woodbine stretch. 2023 Canadian International victor and even-money favorite Nations Pride, second throughout, gave chase but failed to make up any ground on the runaway pacesetter.
As the wire loomed closer, the ever-consistent Tawny Port uncorked a patented late rally, testing the winner for everything he had in a heart-pounding photo finish. In the end, Silawi prevailed by the slimmest of noses.
Silawi ($22.90) stopped the timer in record time of 2:27.52 for the 1 1/2 miles on a firm inner turf course. The unlucky Tawny Port, running the race of his life for trainer Miguel Clement, was runner-up by 1 3/4 lengths in his first trip across the northern border. Nations Pride finished third.
"Silawi is a front-runner, and with this racecourse, I think with a tighter track, I think you got a huge advantage if you are in front, and we know that the Godolphin horse (Nations Pride), he's a nice horse, and if we decide to make a different plan, it will be hard to beat him," trainer Hamad Al Jehani said. "So, we take that advantage to go forward, and we make the pace from the beginning and follow the plan very well, and I think he deserves to be here in the winning enclosure today."
The Canadian International also was the first North American grade 1 winner for Bughenaim, who picked up the mount at the final hour when regular rider Daniel Tudhope was unable to make the trip.
"It is a lucky day for me," Bughenaim said. "Daniel told me he cannot get the flight and Hamad (trainer, Al Jehani) gave me a chance to ride. He's one of the best horses we have in our yard in Newmarket, and Hamad and his assistant believe Silawi can (win big) races. He gave me a nice group 1 (win) in Canada, and I was happy it worked out."
