Andrea Atzeni rides Grade 1 double as British team dominate at Woodbine

Andrea Atzeni was the toast of the British contingent in Canada on Saturday night after riding a Grade 1 double on Desert Encounter and Sheikha Reika at Woodbine.

The two valuable prizes will make their way back to Newmarket as Atzeni led home the David Simcock-trained Desert Encounter from Thundering Blue for a British one-two in the Pattison Canadian International before going on to claim the EP Taylor for Roger Varian on Sheikha Reika.

The $800,000 Canadian International developed into a battle between Desert Encounter and Thundering Blue, the pair pulling clear within the last couple of furlongs to serve up a thrilling duel in the 1m4f contest.

Thundering Blue rumbles home at York to leave Menuisier dreaming of Group 1 glory

Atzeni was virtually last turning for home and once a gap came he gradually angled Desert Encounter out to the middle of the track.

Fran Berry was positioned closer to the inside on Thundering Blue and with space arriving at the perfect time, David Menuisier's galloping grey charged to the lead approaching the final furlong.

However, Desert Encounter was just beginning to go through the gears and came with a sweeping run to go clear of his rival, with a length the difference at the line.

Philip Robinson, racing manager for Desert Encounter's owner Abdulla Al Mansoori, said: "The way he quickened up was amazing. I thought for a second he was going to be second but the last 200 yards he really accelerated again. He seems to still be improving as he gets older."

Desert Encounter, who won a Listed race at Windsor before finishing third behind Young Rascal in the Group 3 Legacy Cup at Newbury last month, is not the first horse Simcock has enjoyed a wonderful Woodbine evening with.

In September 2014, the trainer registered a Grade 1 double at the course with Sheikhzayedroad in the Northern Dancer Turf and Trade Storm in the Woodbine Mile. Then the following month he returned on this card to claim the Grade 2 Nearctic with Caspar Netscher.

Sheikha Reika: pictured after her impressive win at Yarmouth last monthCredit: Lewis Porteous

In the $500,000 EP Taylor, a 1m2f contest for fillies and mares, Atzeni had Sheikha Reika in a prominent position straightening up, and although the jockey was hard at work from a long way his mount kept finding to win by three-quarters of a length.

"I've ridden here so many times in the Canadian International and EP Taylor, so it's nice to get a double," said the jockey.

Regarding Sheikha Reika, who won a Listed race at Yarmouth last month, he added: "She's a big mare and the ground was a little bit dead for her – she's a better filly on fast ground – but she got the job done.

"It was important for her to jump out well as we had a good draw and I was keen to get a good position going to the first corner.

"She travelled nicely but with the slow pace it turned into a bit of a sprint. She took her time to hit top gear but once she did she won quite well in the end."

Elsewhere in North America, the Mark Johnston-trained Nyaleti, winner of the German 1,000 Guineas earlier in the season, took third behind the Chad Brown-trained Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

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