Sulamani is best in Canadian
International
Godolphin Racing Inc.’s SULAMANI (Ire) (Hernando [Fr]) took
the lead in the stretch and powered home a convincing 1 1/2-length
winner of the C$1,500,000 Canadian International S. (Can-G1) at
Woodbine on Sunday. Sitting well off the pace early under Frankie
Dettori, the five-year-old was put to a drive turning for home
and completed the 1 1/2-mile turf event in a sharp 2:28 3/5 for
conditioner Saeed bin Suroor. The world traveler was the heavy 4-5
choice in here, and gave back $3.70, $2.70 and $2.30 to his
backers.
Simonas (Ire) (Sternkonig) was in contention throughout, held
a short lead turning for home but could not match the top one
late, settling for place honors at 21-1. The five-year-old was
worth $11 and $5.70 while completing the $59.60 exactor. Brian
Boru (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), last after a mile, closed stoutly
late but fell two lengths shy of place at 9-2. His return was $3.60,
and he was on the bottom of the $214.80 triactor. Mubtaker (Silver
Hawk) was another three-quarters-of-a-length back in fourth,
rounding out the $359 superfecta ($1) at 5-1.
King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre [Ire]) was next and trailed
by Senor Swinger (El Prado [Ire]), Burst of Fire (Smart Strike),
Colorful Judgement (Diesis [GB]), Sabiango (Ger) (Acatenango) and
Lenny The Lender (Lac Ouimet). Ecomium (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) was
withdrawn.
Sulamani added to an already impressive resume, which includes
wins in the Arlington Million (G1), Turf Classic Invitational S.
(G1), Juddmonte International (Eng-G1), Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1)
and French Derby (Fr-G1). His career line shows a healthy mark of
17-9-3-1. Bred in Ireland by the Niarchos Family and produced
from the winning Alleged mare Soul Dream, the bay is a half-brother
to the multiple Group 1-winning Dream Well (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells).
Earlier in the day at Woodbine, Alain Falourd, Hubert Guy and
Robert Trussel’s COMMERCANTE (Fr) (Marchand de Sable) closed
swiftly on the outside of the track to gain a win in the C$750,000
E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) for conditioner Bobby Frankel. Piloted
by John Velazquez, the four-year-old miss settled toward the rear
through soft splits of :26, :50 4/5 and 1:15 2/5 for the opening
six furlongs, before beginning to advance on the outside. From
there the bay closed swiftly, completing 1 1/4 grassy miles in 2:04
en route to the tally. She paid $7.10, $3 and $2.60, while keying
the $16.40 exactor and $82.30 triactor at 5-2.
Punctilious (GB) (Danehill) had the lead for a short time in
the lane but was outkicked to the wire, settling for the place a
half-length back. The even-money choice returned $2.50 and $2.20.
Classic Stamp (Regal Classic) was just a neck shy of the place,
closing from last after six furlongs to garner show honors, worth
$3.30. Samando (Fr) (Hernando [Fr]) was next and followed by Mona
Rose (Gold Legend), Asti (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), Ometsz (Ire) (Singspiel
[Ire]) and Heyahohowdy (Domasca Dan). Dimitrova (Swain [Ire]) and
Inish Glora (Regal Classic) were scratched.
Commercante, a Group 3 winner in France, was second in the
Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) most recently and moved her
career mark to 13-4-3-1 following this one. She is out of
Deception (Tropular) and has an unraced three-year-old full
brother named Ninian.