The two-time Sovereign Award winner True Metropolitan, in the midst of a five-race losing streak, returns to Woodbine to defend his title in the $150,000 Autumn Stakes (Can-II) on the Polytrack Nov. 9.
After winning nine of 12 starts during 2007 and the beginning of this year's campaign, trainer Terry Jordan's charge has had some trouble finding the winner's circle since this summer, while running second four times in succession. True Metropolitan won the Sovereign Award as Canada's top older main track horse in 2006 and 2007.
In his most recent start, the 6-year-old Proud and True gelding set the pace and gave way in the 1 3/8-mile British Columbia Premiers Handicap (Can-III) Oct. 12 at Hastings Park, checking in fifth. The cutback in to 1 1/16 miles this time should help him get back to his winning ways. He has clicked six times in 12 attempts at the distance.
Owned by Bob Cheema, True Metropolitan is also fond of Woodbine, where he has fashioned a 5-2-2 mark in 10 starts while amassing nearly half of his lifetime bankroll of $1,192.095.
In last year's Autumn, the Florida-bred wrapped his championship season by holding off Leonnatus Anteas by a half-length, setting the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack track record of 1:42.22. True Metropolitan had opened up a two-length lead in the stretch after stalking the pace and won driving under James McAleney, who regains the mount after True Metropolitan's recent sojourn into western Canada.
A lifetime winner of 18 races in 40 starts, True Metropolitan last scored a victory at Woodbine June 7 in the Eclipse Stakes (Can-III). He carries co-high weight of 121 pounds and breaks from the middle of the nine-horse field.
The Autumn also attracts Rosberg, who upset the field in the Premiers with a big late kick to nip Krazy Koffee, and Palladio, who comes off a surprise win in the Durham Cup (Can-III) at Woodbine Oct. 11.
Swift Thoroughbreds' Rosberg, a 7-year-old horse by A.P. Indy, won for the first time in four starts for trainer Dino Condilenios since transferring from the United Arab Emirates last spring. He breaks from the rail with Emile Ramsammy.
Just to his outside is the Roger Attfield-trained Palladio, a 6-year-old son of Lycius who took command in the Durham Cup at the top of the stretch to post a 1 3/4-length victory for jockey Richard Anthony Dos Ramos, who rides him back. Palladio, a homebred owned by Haras Santa Maria de Araras, had not won since early in 2007. Palladio ran fifth in last year's Autumn.
Besides Palladio, the next three finishers in the Durham Cup return here.
The Eugene Melnyk homebred Marchfield, second in the Durham Cup, seeks his first stakes victory since taking the Breeders Stakes on the Woodbine lawn as a 3-year-old last summer. Tucci Stables' Artie Hot, third in the Durham Cup, won the Seagram Cup (Can-III) two starts before that for trainer Nicholas Gonzalez. Torquay, owned and trained by Nickolas De Toro, ran fourth in the Durham Cup.
Also in the field is Augustin Stable's Ice Bear, fourth-place finisher in the Woodbine Mile (Can-I) who gets back on Polytrack for trainer MacDonald Benson.
$150,000 Autumn Stakes (Can-II, Race 9, 5 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 1/16 Miles (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Rosberg (KY), 119, Emile Ramsammy
2. Palladio (FL), 121, Richard Anthony Dos Ramos
3. Marchfield (ON), 117, Patrick Husbands
4. Artie Hot (KY), 121, Emma-Jayne Wilson
5. True Metropolitan (FL), 121, James McAleney
6. Torquay (KY), 115, Eurico Rosa Da Silva
7. Ice Bear (ON), 119, Chantal Sutherland
8. Media Play (FL), 117, Slade Callaghan
9. Stunning Stag (ON), 117, Jono C. Jones
True Metropolitan tries to snap a five-race losing streak in the Autumn Stakes.
Michael Burns