Godolphin's Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), impressive winner of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, tries to convert that form to North America when he takes on five others in the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at Woodbine Saturday.
The winner of four of seven starts last term for earnings in excess of $400,000, he bumped his game up a notch this season with a win in the G2 Dubai City of Gold Mar. 9 before taking the Sheema on Dubai World Cup night Mar. 30. Seventh in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup May 31, he finished third most recently in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin over a mile and a half at Hoppegarten Aug. 11.
“It's a long straight to finish, and that will suit him,” said head traveling lass Sophie Chretien of Woodbine's E. P. Taylor course. “Here in Canada, I think it will suit his style of running. He does like some pace. It's a big, galloping track. I think he will like that. In his last race in Germany, I was not there, but I watched it on TV after. That day–he has some turn of foot, don't get me wrong–but you need some pace for that. He probably would not have beaten the winner, but he could have run a bit better in a way, I think.”
Representing Team Canada, Tiz a Slam (Tiznow) has shown his affinity for the local turf, having won five of nine turf tries her during his career. Victorious in last season's 10-furlong GIII Dominion Day S. on the main track and the GII Nijinsky S. on the grass, the Ontario bred kicked off his 2019 campaign with a sixth in the Feb. 16 GIII Fair Grounds H. followed by a fourth in the GII Elkhorn S. at Keeneland Apr. 20. Returning to his favored front-running tactics for Churchill's GIII Louisville S. May 18, the Chiefswood Stable bred reported home a 3/4-length winner and made it two straight in the GIII Singspiel S. June 22. Favored to defend his Nijinsky title, the Roger Attfield trainee cruised home an easy 4 1/4-length winner.
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