Global Weekly Preview: Rosa ripe to take on the Deauville big guns

Even the prospect of brighter weather on the final two days of Goodwood can hardly save this year's 'Glorious' meeting from being the most miserable in recent memory.

It is no fault of Goodwood's, or anybody associated with this unique racecourse on the Sussex Downs. It is just plain bad luck that rain set in on Day 2 and virtually ruined the popular fixture.

Godolphin, already on the score sheet, hope that blinkers fitted for the first time to Brian The Snail will spark some improvement in the Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old in the historic Stewards' Cup, the annual 28-runner cavalry charge that features on the final day.

Disappointing at his last three outings, Brian The Snail had earlier shown great promise, and Fahey remains optimistic the sprinter's talent can be rediscovered.

On a busy weekend of international racing, Charlie Appleby ships Wuheida to Dusseldorf for Sunday's G1 Preis der Diana, otherwise known as the German Oaks.

This likeable filly, who landed the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac for Godolphin at Chantilly last October, by-passed Goodwood's G1 Nassau Stakes to avoid the testing heavy ground. It may prove a wise move to have diverted the filly to Germany.

Andre Fabre is sending the unbeaten Rosa Imperial to Deauville for Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, in which she faces 12 rivals, including three-year-old Caravaggio, who will be trying to win his way to Australia's novel sprinting contest The Everest.

Fabre knows the task being set the Godolphin four-year-old. "She is a talented filly, making progress," he said.

"Rosa Imperial makes a big step-up into G1 company on only her fourth start, and the concern is that she may lack a bit of experience.

"She is a very relaxed filly, who takes it all in her stride, and whatever happens here, we expect more improvement to come with experience," the trainer explained.

Last year's winner Signs Of Blessing is again a solid chance in a strong field, while Brando, third in the G1 July Cup, is also a major contender.

One other international contest of wide interest this weekend is Saratoga's G1 Whitney Stakes, in which Keen Ice, the horse who inflicted a shock defeat on American Pharoah in the G1 Travers Stakes, heads a field of seven runners.