The long shot Woodbourne has a tall order once again in the Woodbine Mile on 18 September
The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile will definitely be a tougher race than last year, with the likes of Courageous Cat, Turallure, Riding the River and with European invaders invading the turf on 18 September. The long shots and favourites will definitely have their
work cut out.
Court Vision, who won the last year’s edition of the Woodbine Mile, will be looking to defend his title, but there is another runner who was in last year’s Woodbine Mile's line-up and went unnoticed through the build-up.
The 7-year-old gelding, Woodbourne, was sent off as the 52 to 1 long shot in the 2010 Woodbine Mile and managed to finish third, 2 ¾ lengths behind the winner, Court Vision.
Woodbourne is trained by Robert Tiller for The Very Dry Stable. The experienced gelding is coming off a win in the 1 mile long allowance claimer at Woodbine on 20 August, 2011.
Jockey E Wilson rode the seven-year-old gelding to victory on turf, and completed the 1 mile distance in 1 minute and 34.58 seconds.
It was his first win of the season, in his fourth start in 2011.
Prior to the win, Woodbourne came 3rd twice, in a stakes' race and an allowance race, but started off the season with a dismal performance in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes where he finished a distant 8th.
Trainer Robert Tiller acknowledges the fact that this year’s Woodbine Mile is tougher than last year, but he also added that he has no control over it.
He said Woodbourne is in the right order, and he is certainly in good shape this year than he was in 2010. The trainer said that the gelding is fit, ready, able and winning, and a very happy horse.
It will be very difficult for Woodbourne to get his act together right after a win in the Woodbine Mile, because prior to the win, there were three losses in a row for the Canadian based horse.
Emma Jayne Wilson guided the gelding to victory in his last race, and she will be keeping the horse for the Woodbine Mile on 18 September.
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