O'Brien strikes in Canada

Joshua Tree landed a famous win for Ireland in the Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine.

Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt – last seen finishing fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster – led home a one-two-three for European runners in the Grade One event over a mile and a half, a race part of the Breeders’ Cup ’Win and you’re in’ series.

O’Donoghue’s mount took over from the pace-setting Fifty Proof with a couple of furlongs to run and just held the French-trained Mores Wells by a head, with the Barry Hills-trained Redwood just behind in third.

The success means automatic entry to next month's Breeders' Cup Turf for Joshua Tree.

“It’s amazing. He was prepared for today and he was impeccably trained for this race by Aidan O’Brien,” O’Donoghue said on www.thoroughbredtimes.com.

“This is very important to me and means an awful lot. I really owe the owners a lot. They put their trust in me to come over here and ride this horse, and he has been trained specifically for this race by Aidan.

“He knew he was the right type of horse and missed the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to come here.”

There was also a red-letter moment for Newmarket trainer Rae Guest as he sent out his filly Serious Attitude to claim the Grade One Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, the 2008 Cheveley Park Stakes winner had last been seen finishing fifth to Lady Of The Desert in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot.

Guest’s charge had been winless since Newmarket but showed a tremendous turn of foot to sweep from the rear and score in style from Grand Adventure.

She is now guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

In a European clean sweep of the big races on the card, Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Reggane came from last to first to take the E.P Taylor Stakes, booking a place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.