Interpol seeks to break 16-year local drought
The Canadian International has had many more international winners than Canadian in its impressive 77-year history and the local drought is currently at 16 years in Woodbine’s $1 million horse race.
American owner Dennis Narlinger and his family would dearly love it if their Canadian-bred colt Interpol could end that streak Sunday in the 1 1⁄ mile tour around the E.P. Taylor
2 turf course.
The International, made famous when Secretariat won it in 1973, is the headline event on a world class day of racing which includes the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes and the $300,000 Nearctic, each with its share of invaders.
A global field of 12 is expected to be announced at the post position draw Thursday at noon featuring guest host Masai Ujiri, general manager of the Toronto Raptors.
The last Canadian horse to win it was Thornfield in 1999.
“My dad has never been so excited,” said Michael Narlinger, the manager of his father Dennis’s JMJ Racing Stables.
“Interpol is our first Grade 1 winner and we would love him to become the next Canadian-bred winner of the International.”
Sid Attard, Interpol’s Bramptonbased trainer would certainly agree. Attard, a perennial top 10 trainer at Woodbine for decades and Hall of Famer, has never even had a horse in the International.
“I was here in ’73 for Secretariat,” Attard said.
“Oh, boy, I would not have missed it. It was absolutely packed and he ran beautifully.”
So just how did Dennis Narlinger, a semi-retired Californian in the computer electronics business, end up with an Ontario-born colt who goes into the International off two major stakes victories at Woodbine?
“Our bloodstock advisor, Rudy Delguidice and I were shopping at a Lexington, Ky., sale in October, 2012,” Michael Narlinger said.
“He was stabled in a temporary barn in a grass field, further away from the regular sales barns. I distinctly remember I absolutely loved his walk.”
A young horse’s walk can often give hints as to what the racing stride will be like. The longer, smoother and straighter, the better.
Bred by Toronto’s Richard Lister, Interpol, a son of American grass champion English Channel, brought a bid of $90,000 from Narlinger.
Interpol began his career in the U.S. with trainer Graham Motion but after three modest performances, was sent northward to his home province and trainer Attard, a friend of Delguidice.
The colt finished second in the third jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes, last summer and has improved by leaps and bounds. Emma-Jayne Wilson has ridden the colt to his two stakes wins this summer and will ride Sunday.
“This horse has exceeded our expectations, at least this year. We knew he would get better as he got older but he became a Grade 1 winner faster than we thought,” Michael Narlinger said.
Dennis Narlinger will be in town to cheer on his colt, the first time he will see the horse in person.
“No matter what happens on Sunday, this colt is our first Grade 1 winner and that is very, very special. We are very conscious of the history of horse racing at Woodbine as well and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”