Global Weekly Preview - 25.02.16

Good horses make good racing. Great horses take it to another level. That is exactly what is happening in Dubai and Australia in the next few days as some of the very best racehorses make their grand entrance.

I don't think it is any exaggeration to be using the term 'great' when discussing the likes of G1 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, who runs at Meydan on Thursday night, or G1 Cox Plate winner Winx and G1 Caulfield Cup hero Mongolian Khan, who line up at Randwick on Saturday February 27th.

This is what it is all about. Racing sometimes finds it hard to promote itself on the wider sporting stage, but there is no excuse for shouting about the equine talent we are about to see. The "Chromies" - they are a bunch of ardent fans who act as cheerleaders for California Chrome - have probably got it right in their open show of admiration.

Just on 11 months ago, California Chrome finished second to Prince Bishop in the G1 Dubai World Cup, and now there are hopes the five-year-old can go one better in the world's richest race.

He won the G2 San Pasqual Stakes, over eight and a half furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita earlier this year. Now he is in Dubai and working well towards his big target.

Along the way, he runs in a handicap (95-121), the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy, over 2,000m, which should be a relatively easy task this Thursday. Godolphin provide Good Contact as feasible opposition, but the visiting headline horse should prevail in the conditions.

On another attractive Meydan card, keep an eye out for Godolphin's smart Marking, whose Dubai debut was an anti-climax when he knuckled over coming out of the starting gate and dumped James Doyle on the dirt.

Marking, who is highly regarded by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, runs in the Al Naboodah National Plant Trophy Handicap, over 1,200m on dirt. Connections will be banking on a smooth getaway this time. Kasb could be the principal danger.

Godolphin's Safety Check is expected to be too smart for his rivals in the G2 Zabeel Mile on turf, in which Big Baz and the former South African galloper Harry's Son could also run well.

While, in the Al Naboodah Commercial Division Trophy, on turf, Godolphin's Think Ahead, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, can make light of a 3lb rise in the handicap to win again.

Both Sydney and Melbourne boast outstanding racing this weekend. Godolphin's key contenders are running at Randwick, with James McDonald and visiting 'team-mate' William Buick (flying in from Dubai after riding at Meydan) having excellent chances.

It would be hard to split Telperion and Souchez in the G2 Skyline Stakes, while Gloriette is opposed by the John O'Shea stablemate Palomino in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes. Both are lead-up races to the G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 19th.

The booking of McDonald for Ghisoni in the G2 Surround Stakes is significant, with Buick on G1 Crown Oaks third Ambience and Sam Clipperton on Pearls.

But the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, over 1,600m, takes pride of place and will set the scene for all weight-for-age races in Sydney this Autumn. O'Shea is expecting a big run from Hartnell (McDonald) this time, while the G1 Metropolitan winner Magic Hurricane (Buick) and Hauraki (Clipperton) also have claims.

But this is a race of great quality. Apart from the aforementioned Winx and Mongolian Khan, there is the Victoria Derby winner Preferment and English import Storm The Stars, now with Chris Waller in Sydney after having finished third in the G1 Investec Derby at Epsom and 2nd in the G1 Irish Derby for William Haggas.

At Caulfield in Melbourne, Godolphin's Bow Creek can run a much better race in the G2 Peter Young Stakes - he had no luck in the G1 C. F. Orr Stakes last time - while the G1 Blue Diamond could go the way of the Tony McEvoy-trained Concealer and the G1 Oakleigh Plate offers a big chance to Heatherly.