Global Weekly Preview - 18.09.15

Sometimes a horse can send a message to his or her trainer almost as efficiently as email. Yes, it occurs all the time.

And it has happened again, in American racing, with Godolphin's high-profile colt Frosted lining up in Saturday's G2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, all because of the signals he has been giving his trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

When Frosted finished third to Keen Ice in the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29, very few expected him to be making a quick return to the track, a mere 21 days later. He seemed destined for a nice, long rest, prior to the build-up for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.

But despite having had a tough run in the Travers, serving it up to American Pharoah by racing stride for stride with him in the middle stages, Frosted has come out of the race exceptionally well. He has bounced back so quickly, McLaughlin found himself revising plans for the G1 Belmont Stakes runner-up.

"I felt I had to run him again," the trainer explained. "I know it's a little quick, but he's so well in himself. He'll run well.

"He's favourite, and he's entitled to be, and there is no American Pharoah in the race," he added.

Frosted has shown himself to be a gutsy racehorse, with a very strong constitution. He is well equipped for the lesser challenge of the Pennsylvania Derby, over nine furlongs on dirt, in which he faces nine rivals.

It is yet another busy weekend internationally for Godolphin, with Newbury in the UK, as well as Randwick, Sydney, both offering clues for the approaching major races in Australia.

Saeed bin Suroor sends Sky Hunter to Newbury for the G3 Arc Trial, over 11 furlongs, and he will be hoping for a performance that justifies the lightly-raced Godolphin runner's entry in the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup on November 3.

On Thursday, Racing Victoria published the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, and Sky Hunter is listed as No 23, which virtually guarantees him a place in the field that will be restricted to 24 when final declarations are taken on October 31. He is weighted at 54.0kg (8st 7lb).

In coming weeks, there are opportunities for others to leap-frog their way into the race by winning select ballot-exempt races, but Sky Hunter looks secure enough at this stage. The Corsican will be his danger in this Arc Trial.

On the same Newbury card, Ribchester looks the pick of the two Godolphin runners in the G2 Mill Reef Stakes -- Log Out Island is consistent and hardy but keeps running into better horses on the day -- with the Mark Johnston-trained Whitman, a talented son of Darley stallion Poet's Voice, as the danger.

In Sydney, Hauraki lines up with Sweynesse to form the Godolphin attack on the G1 George Main Stakes, over 1,600 metres at Randwick. Runner-up in the G1 ATC Derby in April, Hauraki is weighted at 53.0kg (8.5) for the Melbourne Cup, for which he is listed as No 19 in the order of entry.

Complacent, winner of the G2 Chelmsford Stakes last start, joins Magic Hurricane as Godolphin's representatives in the G2 Hill Stakes, over 2,000 metres.