Global Weekly Preview - 08.07.16

July in Europe and North America signals the start of the second half of the racing year, and there is no mistaking the excitement it generates as a new crop of potential stars appear on the horizon.

While Newmarket (UK) showcases some of the freshest equine talent - Godolphin's Easy Victory made a winning debut on Thursday - the team in America are preparing for their first two-year-old runner of the season.

Guernsey, a colt by Tapit out of the Storm Cat mare Channel, makes his debut in a five-furlong maiden on Polytrack at Arlington Park on Saturday. He faces six rivals, with the only negative being that he has drawn the inside gate No 1.

Reports are very encouraging for this likeable colt, who is the third foal but the first to race from his dam, who is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup winner Tempera.

Meanwhile in New York, the well-regarded Marking reappears in the G3 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes. It is his first outing since finishing fourth to stablemate Frosted in the G1 Met Mile, which was a good run, albeit one in which he was beaten 16 lengths.

A busy day in Britain features the G1 Darley July at Newmarket, but there is also a major meeting at Ascot, where Godolphin have three runners in the G2 Summer Mile - Toormore, Dutch Connection and Richard Pankhurst.