In September, trainer Charlie Appleby shipped several runners across the pond from England to compete at Woodbine, picking off a pair of grade 1 contests. Now, he aims to do it again with another Godolphin runner Oct. 3.
The one designated for the assignment in the CA$750,000 Canadian International Stakes (G1T) is Arabian Crown, a 5-year-old Dubawi gelding bred in France by 4 0 Gb Partnership. Arabian Crown has won six of his 13 lifetime starts, including four wins in his first five career starts.
Although he may not have won as frequently of late, he does exit a triumph in Ireland's Kilternan Stakes (G3) Sept. 12 at Leopardstown Racecourse over the same 1 1/2-mile distance he'll travel Saturday. In addition, the defeats on his running lines do feature some names that are proven on North American soil.
Chief among those is dual Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Rebel's Romance, who beat Arabian Crown by only a half-length two starts back in the July 9 Princess of Wales's Stakes (G2) at Newmarket Racecourse. In the same race in 2025, he was third behind next-out Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) winner El Cordobes and Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) winner Wimbledon Hawkeye. He also had an earlier career defeat to Silver Knott, won won three grade 2 races and was grade 1-placed four times in the United States.
Those running lines suggest Arabian Crown should be up to the challenge as he visits the continent for the first time and breaks from the rail with Jamie Spencer aboard. Team Europe is also represented by Juddmonte's Purview, a Dermot Weld-trained son of Kingman who was third behind Arabian Crown in the Kilternan after winning the June 28 International Stakes (G3) at the Curragh; and and Amo Racing's Ancient Egypt, a group 1-placed son of Frankel who makes his second North American start for trainer Charlie Johnston after finishing fourth in the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (formerly the Sword Dancer) Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course.
Also exiting the Clement is Peachtree Stable's Tawny Port. Connections had been debating a start in Australia's Melbourne Cup (G1) after he won a "Golden Ticket" entry earlier this year in the 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2T), but trainer Miguel Clement announced on X Sept. 29 that they will skip that race and instead point here.
Tawny Port has shown an affinity for the longer distances, exiting a 2 1/16-mile triumph in the Sept. 9 Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs, but does have an 0-3-2 record from 11 starts over 1 1/2 miles.
The course-experienced runners include the 1-2 finishers of Woodbine's 1 3/8-mile Singspiel Stakes (G3T). Ironhorse Racing Stable and T-N-T Equine Holdings' Tomasello won that Sept. 5 race by a half-length over Ralph Murray, John Menary, Gail Cox, and Michael Balaz's closing Dancin in Da'nile.
Meanwhile, Korina Stable's Il Siciliano makes the class jump for trainer Antonio Sano after winning a 1 3/8-mile allowance optional claimer Aug. 8 at Saratoga.
Woodbine, Saturday, October 3, 2026, Race 9Entries: Canadian International S. (G1T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Arabian Crown (FR) Jamie P. Spencer 126 Charles Appleby - 2 Dancin in Da'nile (ON) Pietro Moran 126 Gail Cox - 3 Purview (GB) Christopher Hayes 126 Dermot K. Weld - 4 Il Siciliano (KY) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 126 Antonio Sano - 5 Ancient Egypt (IRE) David Egan 123 Charlie Johnston - 6 Tomasello (KY) Emma-Jayne Wilson 126 Mark E. Casse - 7 Tawny Port (KY) Sahin Civaci 126 Miguel Clement -
