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Global Weekly Preview: Greenham to provide best Classic answers

J A McGrath

A weekend of racing contrasts from a Global perspective but one in which we could discover a possible G1 2,000 Guineas winner in the UK and a tough two-mile stayer to be aimed at the G1 Melbourne Cup later in the year in Australia. 

Take a look at the honour board for the G3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury over the past decade -- Paco Boy (2008), Dick Turpin (2010), Frankel (2011), Kingman (2014), Muhaarar (2015) to name only half the winners  -- and you can see it is a preferred route for many big stables.

The Hannons always loved taking the Greenham path to Newmarket's Rowley Mile, so the entry for Barney Roy is significant, even more so now that Godolphin have bought into the Excelibration colt.

Barney Roy quickened well to win his sole outing, a Haydock maiden last September, and he continues to send out the right signals at home. James Doyle takes the mount.

Aidan O'Brien has sent over War Secretary as the Ballydoyle representative. If official ratings are accurate, this colt and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zainhom, will both take prominent roles in the Greenham, but often those figures can be inflated.

Saeed bin Suroor saddles Dream Castle, a Frankel colt, who easily won his only start last season, a Doncaster maiden by three and a half lengths. He is out of the very able Dubawi mare Sand Vixen.

A field of 10 is close to becoming crowded for a Greenham line-up but that number should ensure a solid pace throughout -- and possibly a worthy Guineas-bound winner with the right credentials.

The feature races in Sydney have been extended by the re-run of the G1 Sydney Cup, in which Godolphin duo Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation both have worthy claims.