Global Weekly Preview - 10.03.16

This is "crunch" time for Godolphin's exciting Bow Creek. Flemington's G1 Australian Cup will determine whether or not he joins the ranks of genuine weight-for-age horses and follows in the hoof prints of Contributer and Hartnell as a G1-winning import for the stable.

The size of the challenge for Bow Creek is big - on three fronts. Not only must he bridge a significant class gap that exists between Caulfield's G2 Peter Young Stakes and the prestigious Australian Cup, he must also cope with a wide draw and a potentially costly habit of missing the start.

Neither are impossible to overcome, however, and if you listen to his trainer John O'Shea, there is the added advantage of having only one option from the barrier. "At least there is no danger of being cluttered up on the inside. He'll have plenty of room out there," O'Shea pointed out.

The third question mark hovers over the son of Darley stallion Shamardal staying a strong 2,000m. It will be only the second time Bow Creek has had a crack at the distance.

On that point, it may pay to recall the only time he tackled the trip, in the Listed Dee Stakes, at Chester (UK) in May 2014. He finished a creditable second, beaten one length by Ballydoyle runner Kingfisher, who went on to finish second in the G1 Irish Derby, second in the following year's G1 Ascot Gold Cup and 19th in the G1 Melbourne Cup.

Third home in the Dee Stakes was Godolphin's own It's Somewhat, who has done reasonably well since being sent to Australia, where he has won one race (a G3) from seven starts.

But the final word on Bow Creek must rest with his jockey, 10-time Melbourne champion Damien Oliver, who said: "He impressed me the way he picked up at Caulfield last time. His will to win is incredible."

There have been many memorable Australian Cups over the years. For this writer, the 1979 running sticks in the memory, with the Colin Hayes-trained Dulcify getting up to beat champion sprinter Manikato (out of his comfort zone completely at 2,000m) and Family Of Man. It is a good horse's race.

Bow Creek's dangers on Saturday are Rising Romance, a one-time Oaks winner who impressed with her running-on sixth in the Peter Young Stakes, as well as Preferment and Suavito, who are both at home in this class.

A total of 11 runners line up for the G1 Newmarket Handicap, in which they will all have to go to beat Team Hawkes's Chautauqua, the brilliant winner of the G1 Lightning Stakes last start. Delectation, the Darley Classic winner, is an obvious danger, together with Japonisme.

In Sydney, Godolphin's Calliope attempts to gain entry to the G1 Golden Slipper field by winning the G2 Magic Night Stakes for fillies. She is joined by stablemate Palomino in the challenge and may be better suited back in a more familiar environment.

Souchez, another promising Godolphin juvenile, aims at the G2 Pago Pago Stakes on the same Rosehill card, while stablemates Hartnell and Magic Hurricane limber up for the big Autumn targets in the G3 Sky High Stakes. Overall, it is yet another important day for Godolphin in Australia.