Returning champ, new faces look to go the distance in Grade 1 Canadian International
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TORONTO, October 1, 2025 – This year’s edition of the $750,000 Canadian International (G1T), set for this Saturday at Woodbine, showcases a wealth of world-class turf talents, including defending champion Nations Pride (IRE) and Wathnan Racing duo Haunted Dream (IRE) and Silawi (IRE).
The 85th edition of the International will see 10 runners, 3-year-olds and up, vie for top prize in the 1 ½-mile race contested over the inner turf course.
Saturday’s outstanding card also features the $250,000 Nearctic Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2T) and the $200,000 bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T).
The accomplished duo of owner Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby return to Woodbine after teaming to win the Rogers Woodbine Mile (G1T), a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Notable Speech (GB) on September 13.
In 2021, Godolphin and Appleby won the Canadian International when Walton Street (GB) produced a 5 ¾-length triumph with Frankie Dettori in the irons.
Two years ago, it was multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Nations Pride (IRE) who delivered his connections a coveted victory in the International.
Since then, the 6-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE) out of the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Important Time (IRE) has posted two wins, a second and a third from nine starts.
His victories came in last year’s Arlington Million (G1T) and this March’s Singspiel Stakes (G2T) at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
“We came here confident that he was where he needed to be to win this race,” Appleby said of the Singspiel success. “He had valid excuses for his last two defeats as he’s only ever run twice right-handed around Bahrain and been beaten twice. Then at Gulfstream (Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1T, in January), he had a torrid shipping, it took a long time to get there and conditions weren't really suitable.”
After a runner-up showing in his 2-year-old debut in September 2021, Nations Pride (IRE) reeled off four straight victories.
The bay was then entered to run in the 2022 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) after competing in the Group 1 Epsom Derby in June.
Nations Pride (IRE) impressed in that first North American test, running second in the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series that July and built on that performance with a 1 ¾-length triumph in the $1 million Caesars Saratoga Derby (G1T) a month later.
He then travelled to Keeneland where he finished fifth, 3 ¾ lengths behind stablemate Rebel’s Romance, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) in November.
Nations Pride (IRE) spent the early part of 2023 in Meydan where he won the Dubai Millennium Stakes (G3T) and finished third to Lord North in the Dubai Turf (G1T).
His return to Europe yielded an impressive score in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1T) at Munich in late July.
“He beat a solid field of horses that day on ground which was softer than he would prefer,” said Appleby, of the three-length victory at 1 ¼ miles over yielding ground.
Last year, Nations Pride (IRE) posted a win, a second and a third from four starts.
Sporting an overall record of 11-3-3 ($3,789,286) from 23 starts, he arrives at his return International engagement off a third in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) on August 9 at Saratoga.
“He has shown huge versatility in both Europe, North America, and Dubai,” said Appleby. “He has a great constitution and is very relaxed which has no doubt contributed to him winning from a mile up to a mile and a half.”
Billy Loughnane will ride.
The striking Haunted Dream (IRE) made his North American debut a winning one after taking the $150,000 HPIbet Singspiel Stakes (G3T), run over 1 3/8 miles on Woodbine’s inner turf course, on September 6.
The 6-year-old, who powered home to a 1 ½-length score in the marathon event run over firm ground and stopped the teletimer in 2:15.40, will look to make it two straight scores at the Toronto oval.
“We were planning to give him a break, to be honest,” said trainer Hamad Al-Jehani. “But after such a great effort in the Singspiel, it gave us confidence to send him back again for the International. It is a good opportunity to be there again, especially with it being a Grade 1 race. It was a very good performance for him. It was his first time on the track, and he handled it very well.
“We had a great result and that is why we feel we should come back again with him.”
Haunted Dream (IRE) is now 9-10-6 ($679,659) from 39 career starts. His most notable wins prior to the Singspiel came when he won consecutive editions, 2023-24, of the Group 3 Al Safliya Cup in Qatar.
Sired by Oasis Dream (GB) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Red Halo (IRE), the well-traveled gelding, bred by High Rollers, is owned by Wathnan Racing.
“He always tries his best,” said Al-Jehani. “It will not be easy in the International, but we know he will always give his best. It will be a challenge, for sure, but he is a horse we know can always come with a nice run.”
His stablemate, Silawi (IRE), a 5-year-old son of Dubawi, heads into the International off a three-quarter length triumph in the Winter Hill Stakes (G3T) at Windsor.
Contested over 1 ¼ miles for 3-year-olds and up on August 23, the race featured a select field of five runners.
Ridden by Cieren Fallon, the gelding, who won the Thorn Plant Hire Ltd Handicap on the same course in May, claimed an early advantage and was able to fight off a stout challenge from mutuel choice Military Order to win in 2:03.41.
Silawi (IRE), who had come into the race off a fifth-place performance in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap at the same distance, produced his most significant score to date, earning his first Group badge in the process.
“He is a very nice horse,” said Al-Jehani. “He produced a very nice win. We have always said that Haunted Dream (IRE) and Silawi (IRE) are on the same level. We had plans to send Silawi (IRE) to Bahrain for a Group 3 at the end of October, but we felt it was better to have two horses in this race at Woodbine.
“We feel Silawi (IRE) can do well on the tighter Woodbine course.”
In 25 starts, the bay, who broke his maiden at Saint Cloud, in his fifth start, on April 26, 2023, has crafted a 3-4-4 mark ($211,808).
Bred by Wertheimer et Frere, Silawi (IRE) is out of Silasol (IRE), a dual Group 1 winner over 1600m at two and 2000m at three. He is a half-brother to Fasol (GB), two-time runner-up at Group 3 level over 3000m and 3100m at 3 and 4, and a full brother to Silius (IRE), Listed winner over 1500m at 3 and three-time Group 3-placed over 1400m and 1600m. He is also a half-brother to Silastar (GB), a four-time winner between 1600m and 2400m.
Al-Jehani is looking for a clean trip for both starters.
“Hopefully, there is a good pace from the beginning. Haunted Dream (IRE) can hopefully have an easy run until the last turn and then come with a nice run. As well, for Silawi (IRE), he is a nice horse, and I don’t think he minds what position he needs to be in during the early part of the race.
“We hope everything goes to plan and that they have uncomplicated trips and have good energy in the stretch.”
Other starters include accomplished Miguel Clement trainee, Tawny Port.
A multiple graded stakes winner, Tawny Port, owned by Peachtree Stable, is 5-5-5 from 28 starts and has recorded $2,011,062 in purse earnings.
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, LLC, the 6-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile heads into his second first engagement at Woodbine off a pair of seconds, including last time out in the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes (G2T) on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.
“He is amazingly consistent and tough,” praised Clement, who watched Tawny Port finish second in the Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes on August 30. “He ran two very good races at Kentucky Downs a week apart. We were all extremely happy with those efforts.
“Even if he doesn’t win, he always runs a very good race. I expect him to be flying at the end. Tactically speaking, he will not be forwardly placed, so we hope there is some pace up front early.”
Tawny Port, who broke his maiden first time out, on December 4, 2021, at Turfway Park, earned his first stakes victory in the 2022 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3T).
Sahin Civaci will be in the irons.
Joshua Tree (IRE) is the only three-time winner of the Canadian International with successes in 2010, 2012, and 2013, along with a second-place finish in 2011. Other notable winners include Secretariat, All Along, Chief Bearhart, Singspiel, Youth, Snow Knight, Dahlia, and two-time winners Desert Encounter (IRE) and George Royal.
First post time is 1:25 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, .20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) and $1 Swinger.
A special Pick 3 sequence will also be offered on Canadian International Day:
Fall Turf Pick 3
Nearctic Stakes (G2T) – Race 5
Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) – Race 8
Canadian International (G1T) – Race 9
$5 minimum | 15% takeout
Field for the Grade 1 Canadian International – Race 9
Post Position – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Haunted Dream (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Hamad Al-Jehani
2 – My Boy Prince – Pietro Moran – Mark Casse
3 – English Actor – Patrick Husbands – Rachel Halden
4 – Tawny Port – Sahin Civaci – Miguel Clement
5 – Roscar – Ryan Munger – Rachel Halden
6 – Tosen Wish (IRE) – Fraser Aebly – Mark Casse
7 – Silawi (IRE) – Daniel Tudhope – Hamad Al-Jehani
8 – Raptor’s (BRZ) – Javier Castellano – Mark Casse
9 – Dancin in Da’nile – Jose Campos – Gail Cox
10 – Nations Pride (IRE) – Billy Loughnane – Charles Appleby
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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