THE Mike de Kock-trained Mahbooba will be one of three runners to represent South Africa at the Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto Canada, on Sunday.

Mahbooba will contest the Gr 1 EP Taylor Stakes ($US1 million) presented by Fly Emirates, over 2000m on turf.  Trainer Herman Brown is set to field two horses, Bronze Cannon and Mikhail Glinka, in the $1.5-million Pattison Canadian International (Gr 1) over 2400m.

Mahbooba in action, Dubai. (Andrew Watkins).

Mahbooba arrived in Toronto on Tuesday and Mike said: “The shippers tell me that she travelled well. I will be in touch with my assistants during the course of today (Wednesday), for a more detailed report.”

Declan Cronin and Lisa Moncrieff will be at Mahbooba’s side this week and Mike said he was confident that she can finish in the money. “She’s shown that 2400m is her game these days, but she has good pace and a strong finish and will be competitive.”

The only previous De Kock runner to race at Woodbine was Oracle West, who finished fifth in the 2007 Canadian International. Mike is keen to put a winner on the board here and said: “It’s a pity that Christophe Soumillon is not available to ride her, but we’ve found a capabe replacement in Jamie Spencer, who has been riding with lots of confidence lately.”