Global Weekly Preview - 24.06.16

It takes a bold move in racing to change course after 183 years, but that is quite literally what is happening at Newcastle (UK) this Saturday.

The famous Northumberland Plate, widely known as the Pitmen's Derby, will be run on an all-weather track for the first time in its long history. Tradition is being thrown out the window.

The lush Turf course at Gosforth Park has been replaced by a Tapeta track. Early reports are that the surface is riding very well, and all the competitiveness of the Plate, first run in 1833, can be expected.

Visiting Godolphin jockey James McDonald, who has stayed on in Britain after Royal Ascot, has picked up the ride on the Charlie Appleby-trained Antiquarium, a strong stayer, who has won three of his 10 starts to date.

James Doyle rides stablemate Polarisation, whose recent second in an Epsom handicap was a good pointer to his chances here off a slightly lower handicap mark.

There is plenty happening from a global perspective. Eagle Farm, Brisbane, again hosts the best racing in Australia this weekend, while Newmarket (UK) features a number of talking points, the most pertinent being the appearance of Godolphin's Birchwood in the G3 Criterion Stakes, over seven furlongs.