Making his North American debut, Silawi took the lead out of the starting gate and was never headed on his way to winning the G1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Saturday, 4 October.
The victory was the third this year for the five-year-old Dubawi gelding and marked the first G1 win of his career.
Showing natural early speed from an outside draw, Silawi slipped away early as Nations Pride (Teofilo) and My Boy Prince took up the chase with a lap to run. But even as the field was well into the backstretch the second time around, it was clear Nations Pride wasn’t closing into the lead as much as he needed to.
Still holding a three-length advantage heading into the stretch, Silawi was set down for the drive as he faced the closing onslaught of Tawny Port and Nations Pride, who steadily cut into the lead as the wire quickly approached. At the finish it was Silawi that was victorious by a nose over Tawny Port, with Nations Pride another nose back in third.
Bred in Ireland by Wertheimer Et Frere, Silawi is out of the Monsun mare, Silasol, Champion juvenile filly in France and winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary. In addition to the Canadian International winner, Silasol is also the dam of Silius, his Stakes-winning full brother.
Dubawi has now sired 29 Black Type winners in 2025. They are led by nine-time G1 winner Rebel’s Romance, Classic hero Notable Speech, who won his third G1 in the Woodbine Mile, and Irish Champion Stakes hero Delacroix.
