Wild Desert narrowly denied in G1 Summer Stakes

Wild Desert almost overcame a slow start and wide trip as he closed powerfully to go down by a head to Argos in the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine, Canada, on Saturday, 13 September.

Making his North American debut on the back of finishing third in the G2 Superlative Stakes, the Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile was sluggish leaving the stalls and raced in ninth as Marcus J led the 10 runners.

Wild Desert failed to handle the first turn and shifted wide under William Buick before Bill Of Ice relegated the Too Darn Hot homebred to last at the halfway point, some eight lengths off the lead.

Having regained ninth at the top of the straight, Wild Desert quickened strongly after straightening up and stormed home down the centre of the course, with Nyquist colt Argos also unleashing a potent turn of foot from mid-division.

Argos and Wild Desert collared Two Out Hero inside the final half-furlong, with Argos finding more close home for a slender victory.

Charlie Appleby said: “Wild Desert had a wide trip throughout but will have learned plenty from the experience. We will bring him back and regroup, with a potential view of heading to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”