Brilliant Collier Grabs International

Collier Hill, trained in North Yorkshire by Alan Swinbank, landed the biggest success of his career with a famous victory in the Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine in Toronto last night.

Dean McKeown's mount chased early pace-setter Last Answer from the outset in the 12-furlong Grade One contest and was still going strongly turning for home.

He picked up well and went clear but John Velazquez gave chase on Go Deputy and was closing the gap with every stride.

The pair were almost inseparable passing the line but it was McKeown's mount who got the nod, with Sky Conqueror in third and Roger Charlton's Blue Monday staying on to take fourth.

The eight-year-old was coming off victory in the Stockholm Cup at Taby and has also been successful in Ireland, Germany and Dubai in a fairytale career which saw him start off in a bumper at Catterick in 2002.

A winner over hurdles, the son of Dr Devious was second to Japanese ace Heart's Cry at Nad Al Sheba in March, finishing in front of the likes of Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun.

A jubilant McKeown said: 'He picked up a million dollars for coming second to Heart's Cry and this really is the icing on the cake.

'He's an eight-year-old and has successfully competed all over the world. What can you say about him?

'My plan was to ride him handily because if he gets buried in the pack he doesn't use his action and the best way to ride him is to switch him into daylight as soon as you can.

'The other horse headed me two strides before the line but he came back gamely and I knew I had won. My horse put his nose out right where it mattered.'

McKeown, who left to jet back to Britain straight after the race, added: 'He is better on good to soft and he doesn't like it heavy, but I've been riding him on the course here all week and even though they had the rain, the going was fine for him.'

Collier Hill is owned in partnership by Russell Hall, who has 50 per cent, David Abell, who has 25 per cent, and Richard Crowe, who has the remaining 25 per cent.

The latter said: 'All options are open for him and I am sure he will be running abroad before the end of the year. I only bought my share a year ago and things couldn't have worked out better for me.'

Hall, a sheep farmer from Cumbria, said: 'I imagine the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin will be the next stop and the plan will be to go back to Dubai in March for another shot at the Sheema Classic.'

Charlton said of Blue Monday: 'He has run his usual tough, honest race after coming from quite a way back.

'We had hoped to get a handy position early on and Steve (Drowne) thought the going was softer than ideal for him. But we're delighted with his effort and all options will be open to him next year.'

Drowne added: 'He put up a really good performance and might have been closer if I had a better sit early on. The ground was possibly softer than he prefers.'

St Leger runner-up The Last Drop was far from disgraced in seventh.

George Hills, son of trainer Barry, said: 'It was a lot to ask of a three-year-old and he has run well enough. He is an improving type of horse and something to look forward to next year.'

Mick Kinane was eighth on the John Oxx-trained Kastoria and said: 'We missed the break and I bided my time. I was happy with her one minute but the next I wasn't and she faded out of it.'

Earlier on the card, Red Bloom disappointed under Kinane in the Grade One E P Taylor Stakes.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare was handy in the early stages but found little in the home straight and was a well-beaten sixth behind impressive winner Arravale.

The latter burst through on the far rail and readily held on to beat Barancella and Naissance Royale in the #300,000 contest.

Chris Richardson, managing director of Red Bloom's owners Cheveley Park Stud, blamed the testing conditions for the daughter of Selkirk's eclipse.

'Unfortunately, although she acts on ground with some cut in it, she doesn't like extremes and the rain we had today proved her undoing,' he said.

'On good to soft she is fine, but on this ground, which was similar to Deauville (where Red Bloom was beaten in a Group Two in August), she doesn't pick up.

'This is almost her certainly her last race and she has been a phenomenal filly, winning a Group race every year for four years, including the Group One Meon Valley Fillies' Mile as a two-year-old.'

Winning jockey Jose Valdivia jnr said: 'I have sat on some nice horses and Heat Haze comes to mind, but this horse was unbelievable.

'It was very soft, but she was travelling very well the whole time and when I called on her she showed an unbelievable turn of foot.'

Hall Of Fame trainer Mac Benson, asked if he was worried about the going, said: 'Sure, because she had never run on it before. In this country, you don't get the chance to run on soft very often and in that respect I thought the Europeans had an edge on us.'

Owner Robert Costigan, asked whether the winner would go to the Breeders Cup, said: 'That will be Mac's decision and if she comes out of the race well, we'd certainly consider it.'

Fast Parade took the Grade Two Nearctic Stakes with the Dandy Nicholls-trained Moss Vale fading into fifth after attempting to make all for Kinane.

Peace Offering, stablemate of Moss Vale, never threatened and was struggling from some way out.

(C) PA Sport