Global Weekly Preview

With the emphasis switched to the Northern Hemisphere on the Global scene, Friday's meeting at Sandown Park (UK) is one of significance in the build-up to the major races in coming weeks.

Godolphin's upwardly-mobile colt Belardo has plenty in his favour as he targets the G2 Bet365 Mile, in which he faces six rivals, including two others carrying the Royal Blue silks, Toormore and Barchan.

From his two-year-old days, the Roger Varian-trained Belardo has shown a marked preference for ground with 'cut,' so he should be in his element on the forecast 'Good to Soft' going.

He also has the benefit of having already won a race this campaign - he excelled at Doncaster last month - and is starting to realise the potential he showed in winning the G1 Dewhurst Stakes as a juvenile.

Varian has taken the precaution of also declaring forward-running Barchan, an 80-rated horse just out of maiden ranks, to ensue there is a true gallop all the way.

Interestingly, Richard Hannon has publicly stated that Toormore will need the race. Like Belardo, he is being aimed at the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month as a prelude to the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.

With this in mind, the danger to Belardo must be the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection, a Royal Ascot winner, who will be having his first outing this year.

The Sandown card also features the Bet365 Classic Trial, in which Sir Michael Stoute saddles Midterm, a Galileo first foal of multiple G1 winner Midday, who won his only start to date, at Newbury last October.

Stoute has won three Sandown trials - two of his winners, Shergar and Shahrastani, went on to win the G1 Derby, while the other, Fantastic Light, won him the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic before becoming a great money spinner for Godolphin.

If Midterm wins with authority, his name will dominate discussions on the Derby. But, there are still 'trials' to take place at Newmarket, Chester, and York, plus a possible pointer or two from Ireland and France.

Hong Kong's international races are getting ever stronger, as seen by the high quality field for Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Sha Tin. There is great depth in the line-up.

Japanese contender Lovely Day, winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and third in the G1 Japan Cup, heads the list, but he faces some stiff opposition.

Ireland's Highland Reel, winner of the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December, and Werther, the Hong Kong Derby-winning son of Tavistock, are major contenders, as are the David Hayes-trained Rising Romance and the Mike De Kock-trained Ertijaal, the latter having finished fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan.

John Moore saddles three in the race, with Werther, from gate 5, arguably his best chance of the trio. But veteran Designs On Rome can never be discounted and will be comfortable no matter how the race is run.