Global Weekly Preview - 28.08.15

The Spring Carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne step up a gear this Saturday with the G2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill and the G1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield in those respective state capitals of Australia.

It is an important starting point for the Godolphin duo Exosphere and Holler. Both are set to line up in the Run To The Rose, over 1200m (6 furlongs).

Trainer John O'Shea has high expectations this time for Exosphere, whose last run came in the Golden Slipper in March. He won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Aug 14.

The Lonhro colt was mentioned by jockey James McDonald as a horse to follow in his recent column on the Godolphin website. Sam Clipperton rides this time.

Holler, a son of Commands, is one win from two starts and was second in a barrier trial at Randwick on Aug 24. Christian Reith will be in the saddle.

The Godolphin duo take on five rivals, who are headed by the Chris Waller-trained Japonisme, who is attempting to make it five wins in a row. His most recent victory came in the G3 San Domenico, over 1100m.

The other key opponent is another Waller-trained hopeful, Press Statement, who is already a G1 winner, having taken the J J Atkins Stakes. He is well-regarded by connections.

In Melbourne, a capacity field of 16 contests the G1 Memsie Stakes, over 1400m (7 furlongs), despite Fawkner having dropped out after drawing widest (he is to gallop on the course before racing). The first emergency comes into the field.

Waller saddles Boban, the Doomben 10,000 winner, but chief dangers are Volkstock'N'Barrel, the Rosehill Guineas winner, as well as brilliant filly Rising Romance, an ATC Oaks heroine who later finished runner-up in the Caulfield Cup.

In Britain, Kodi Bear is the stand-out class horse in Goodwood's G2 Celebration Mile, and with evidence that he can handle soft ground following his second in last year's Dewhurst at Newmarket, connections can afford to be confident in this six-runner race.

Godolphin's Marzocco runs in the March Stakes, over 1m 6f, on the same card, having his first outing since Royal Ascot.

An interesting runner for Team Godolphin is to be saddled at the night meeting at Windsor, the three-year-old Racing History, who faces nine rivals in the G3 Winter Hill Stakes. Winner of two of his three starts, he has a handy weight pull on his older opposition.

Godolphin's Beautiful Romance runs in the Listed August Stakes on the same card.