Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine Betting Tips

Sunday at Woodbine in Toronto is looking like an especially intriguing day with two premier Grade 1 races attracting talent from all over North America.

Named after arguably the most famous Canadian horse of all-time, the Northern Dancer stakes have several Ontario-breds taking on shippers from Kentucky and the UK.

Redwood (High Chaparral) is a Juddmonte-bred colt who ships over from Europe after a fairly solid campaign that has born a Group 2 victory and a Group 2 placing at Goodwood and Newmarket. He made a solid attempt in his last effort, a Group 2 clash at Deauville, but came up just short in the final 100y. He will not be running on Lasix in this race and that will likely dissuade a few punters.

Spice Route (King's Best) teams up with Mike Smith for the second time as the pair look to build on their Grade 3 score at Woodbine in the Singspiel Stakes, which ran 1m4f over turf rated as firm. He could spring a surprise as well and shouldn't be discounted.

Perfect Shower (Perfect Soul) is a owned and bred by Charles Fipke and trained by the well-regarded Woodbine trainer Roger Attfield. He's hit over the Woodbine Turf before when delivering at 47/1 in the 2009 Breeders Stakes. He disappointed as the 11/10 favourite at Arlington in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes and he should enjoy the shift back to the Woodbine Turf. He ran third to Spice Route in the Singspiel, however, and that should be respected.

Steve Asmussen's Expansion (Maria's Mon) is likely going to be a popular selection for the trainer who tends to hit well at Woodbine, but he will certainly need to step it up in this Grade 1 encounter. The Darley-bred 5 year-old has shown a good turn of foot in the past and acquitted himself well finishing 3rd to Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Man O' War stakes at Belmont Park in July.

Guipago (My Way Only) is another who will need to show big improvement here if he's going to capture his first graded score. He is fresh off a victory in the Halton Stakes, which was run over the Woodbine turf, but the Fieldstone Farms-owned chestnut will need a serious step up in his game if he's going to make an impression.

Defending champ Marsh Side (Gone West) comes back to defend his title for trainer Neil Drysdale and he will likely go off at fairly short odds, having shown plenty of acumen over the Woodbine turf. The 7 year-old had Edgar Prado aboard for the trip last time and he will be on board again, this is significant as the pair scored in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes last time out when sent off as the 13/20 favourite. He should take the bulk of the action.

Prediction:

1. Perfect Shower
2. Spice Route
3. Marsh Side
4. Redwood