Irish-bred Silawi wins $750,000 Canadian International by a nose at Woodbine

By Canadian Press on October 4, 2025.

TORONTO — Irish-bred Silawi, a 10-1 pick, took the early lead and then held on to win the $750,000 Grade 1 Canadian International turf race by a nose Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack.

Silawi and jockey Faleh Bughenaim appeared to have the win well in hand midway down the lane. But Tawny Port, sitting sixth after 1 1/4 miles, came on strong less than 100 metres from finish line.

Silawi held on to win the 1 1/2-mile turf race by a nose in 2:27.32. Defending champion Nations Pride, another Irish horse, was third in the 10-horse field.

“It is a lucky day for me,” said Bughenaim, who picked up the mount when Daniel Tudhope was unable to ride. “Daniel told me he cannot get the flight and Hamad (trainer, Al-Jehani) gave me a chance to ride.

“He’s one of the best horses we have in our yard in Newmarket, and Hamad and his assistant believe Silawi can do great races. He gave me a nice Group 1 (win) in Canada and I was happy it worked out.”

As was Al-Jehani, who sent out Haunted Dream, another Irish horse, to victory in the Singspiel Stakes event at Woodbine on Sept. 6.

“Silawi is a front-runner and with this racecourse, I think with a tighter track, I think you got a huge advantage if you are in front,” he said. “We know that the Godolphin horse (Nations Pride), he’s a nice horse, and if we decide to make a different plan, it will be hard to beat him.

“So, we take that advantage to go forward, and we make the pace from the beginning and follow the plan very well, and I think he deserves to be here in the winning enclosure today.”

Silawi earned a fourth victory from 26 career starts. The five-year-old horse paid $22.90 for the win.

Silawi has raced in France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and England but was making his first North American start for owner Wathan Racing.

“It’s not a surprise because I feel from the beginning when we start to do the entry,” said Al-Jehani. “I believed if Silawi came to Woodbine racecourse, he can show greater performance.

“So, the trainer is not always right, but today I’m right, so it’s a great result for the team. That result, it’s not coming from Hamad Al-Jehani alone — it’s coming from all the team.”

Silawi came to the International off a three-quarter length win in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor in August.