Europe Falls Short In Canada

Europe´s challenge on the Pattison Canadian International fell short at Woodbine when the former Irish-trained Relaxed Gesture turned the Grade One contest into a procession under Corey Nakatani.

Heavy rain on Saturday had put the emphasis on stamina and Relaxed Gesture relished the conditions to go clear early in the straight and score by four and a half lengths from Meteor Storm.

Dermot Weld´s 2004 Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow past the post third under Pat Smullen, with the 6-5 favourite and Juddmonte International winner Electrocutionist just behind.

However, Mick Kinane claimed his mount had been struck by Smullen´s whip and the placings of Grey Swallow and Italian raider Electrocutionist were reversed.

Kinane conceded Electrocutionist never threatened to win, and said: 'I was struggling a long way out and he was never moving as I hoped during the part of the race where he should have been travelling well.'

Smullen said of Grey Swallow: 'He ran a very brave race and I was pleased with him but at the top of the straight the winner was going amazingly well and my fellow didn´t have the toe to go with him.'

Aidan O´Brien´s Yeats proved disappointing, with his chance being compromised by a slow break from the stalls.

Kieren Fallon rushed him up to join issue with the early leader King´s Drama but rounding the top turn the colt was already in trouble.

Fallon said: 'It didn´t work out the way I hoped as this horse likes to dominate.

'He wasn´t really enjoying himself when he couldn´t get into the lead but I know he´s better than that.'

The victory of 11-1 chance Relaxed Gesture proved the highlight of a memorable day for trainer Christophe Clement who had earlier landed the Nearctic Stakes with Steel Light, also partnered by Nakatani.

Andrew Balding´s Vanderlin finished fourth in that Grade Two event over six furlongs.

Nakatani said of Relaxed Gesture: 'He handled the ground well and I adopted different tactics than I did on his previous start at Belmont when he was up with the pace.

'Today he was going so well underneath me that on the home turn I felt I was going to win. I was still waiting for them to come for me and when I made my move I made sure I put them all away.'

The International result must have been received with mixed feelings by Weld, who until a year and a half ago used to train the winner.

Punctilious proved a disappointing favourite in the E P Taylor Stakes when the Godolphin-owned filly could finish only 10th behind Honey Ryder.

Frankie Dettori never looked happy on Punctilious who, after breaking slowly, made up that lost ground quickly but was under pressure on the turn from home.

Punctilious faded badly in the yielding ground and Dettori said: 'The ground is on the slow side of good and she just ran very flat.'

Honey Ryder proved a game winner as she resisted three challenges inside the final furlong for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez.

She held Latice by half a length, with Ambitious Cat a head further back in third, while the unlucky in running Barancella finished best of all and was just a nose behind in fourth.

Velazquez said: 'My filly had to overcome a rough trip. Once I pulled her out at the quarter pole she responded very well.

'She always seems to find more and fight on - she´s beaten a lot of good fillies.'

? PA Sport