Global Weekly Preview - 16.10.15

Godolphin are heavily involved in two of the biggest races taking place on opposite sides of the world this weekend, the G1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne, Australia, and the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot, UK.

Victory in one or both G1s would be a major triumph, and there are realistic hopes that can be achieved, with Jack Hobbs the favourite for the Champion Stakes, and Hauraki rated a first class chance at Caulfield. Both races are run on Saturday.

Groans of disappointment could be heard coming from John Gosden's Clarehaven Stables on Newmarket's Bury Road when Jack Hobbs drew stall 12 in the 13-runner Champion Stakes, with only his pacemaker Maverick Wave drawn wider.

It makes the challenge even greater for three-year-old Jack Hobbs, who will be tackling older horses at G1 level for the first time. William Buick is certain to have an enterprising Plan A, and in all probability, a cunning Plan B, as well. He needs to be well-equipped.

This is a fiercely competitive G1, that has become more reliant on jockeyship than ever. The very short run to the first bend, in Swinley Bottom, means an inside draw is a big advantage.

On the other hand, Jack Hobbs is such an impressive, improving individual, who has been perfectly handled throughout a season that his stablemate Golden Horn has dominated. There has always been a feeling that Jack Hobbs's big day is still to come. This might well be it.

Saeed bin Suroor is very pleased with Racing History, which underpinned the decision to supplement the three-year-old brother to Farhh. This colt has put together three wins, which have seen him progress from maiden class to handicaps to Group Three, and now Group One.

With rain clouds hovering the ground will be a major factor, and Jack Hobbs will not have any problems on that score. The Ballydoyle hopeful Found had no luck when ninth in the G1 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, and this could be her chance to get some compensation.

The Champion Stakes is one of a collection of major races that make up the richest day of racing in the UK, in terms of prizemoney, and I will look at the other events later in this column.

First, though, an examination of the Caulfield Cup field marks this as one of the strongest renewals in many years. Group Two Hardwicke Stakes winner Snow Sky, representing Khalid Abdulla and Sir Michael Stoute, and the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris are the major European contenders, with Fame Game and Hokko Brave bringing strong opposition from Japan.

But Godolphin are relying on Hauraki, runner-up to Mongolian Khan in the G1 ATC Derby in Sydney last April and a four-year-old that trainer John O'Shea believes will be suited by the fast going. "The firmer the better for him, and he is primed to run the race of his life," O'Shea said.

Mongolian Khan is the favourite following an eye-catching run in the G1 Caulfield Stakes last week, which is a good pointer to the chances of Hauraki, whose run in the G3 Craven Plate last time was very good.

Godolphin's Complacent (second emergency) and Magic Hurricane (fourth emergency) both need horses in the top 18 declared to drop out if they are to get a run.

Meanwhile, other features on the Ascot card are Territories bidding for glory for Godolphin in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, backed up by the Roger Varian-trained Belardo, and Lightning Moon attempting to bounce back to form in the G1 Sprint Stakes, Beautiful Romance having a crack at the G1 Fillies and Mares Stakes, and Hidden Gold lining up in the G2 Long Distance Cup.

One other overseas engagement worth underlining is Godolphin's Devonshire taking on a strong line-up of fillies in the G1 E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Canada, on Sunday. Cannock Chase, owned by Saeed Suhail, has good prospects of landing the G1 Canadian International on the same card.