Vanderlin lifts Woodbine prize

Andrew Balding’s Vanderlin made a winning debut in Canada last night, capturing the Grade Two Play the King Stakes at Woodbine.

The six-year-old, partnered by Martin Dwyer, was sent off an 11-1 shot but he was slowly away as local favourite Soaring Free made the early running.

Dwyer bided his time on the Halling gelding before launching his challenge and he soon started to pick off his rivals in the seven-furlong contest.

He collared Le Cinquieme Essai in the shadow of the post to get up by a head with Frank’s Selection a further length and a quarter away in third.

“He’s never run over here before; the stalls are so different, and he was away a little bit slowly,” said Dwyer told www.bloodhorse.com.

“The horses over here, they’re so much faster out of the gate and it caught him by surprise.

“They went fast and I knew we’d come home good. I was just waiting for the split. I didn’t want to come out wide. I thought if we pulled out wide, we might not make the ground up. He fought really well and battled to win.”