Global Weekly Review

Mark Johnston has been training racehorses since 1987, and has been around long enough to know that very little will faze him -- or surprise him -- these days.

And, without wanting to paint the proud Scot as a man devoid of emotion or passion, there is not much on a racecourse that will excite him, either.

He prepared the brilliant Shamardal to win the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and talented filly Attraction to take the G1 1,000 Guineas, both on Newmarket's Rowley Mile in 2004. You could excuse a 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt' feel to it all.

But that is being outrageously blasé about racing in general, as well as racehorses in particular, and all the work and effort that goes into breeding, nurturing and training them.

And, frankly, despite the trainer's protestations, the prospect of another champion emerging from his yard has given him a real buzz.

Johnston has admitted he found himself "getting a little nervous" when waiting for Lumiere to run in Saturday's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Not that he needed to -- the filly strode along in front until quickening up just over a furlong out.

She then held the Richard Hannon-trained Illuminate to score by half a length, with a head back to Besharah in third. It was a cracking trial for next year's 1,000 Guineas, even if the distance was only six furlongs.

"I have no doubt that she will stay a mile," Johnston said. "I am even more confident in saying that now, than I was before the Cheveley Park. She wasn't (over) keen, she was just travelling fast in front. But she quickened up well.

"I was a little worried beforehand because she had gone in her coat. But she's a brilliant filly," he added.

Lumiere, a Darley-bred daughter of Shamardal, carries the colours of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Godolphin supplied second and third in the G1 Middle Park Stakes, ultra-tough Buratino and consistent Steady Pace. They were beaten by the John Gosden-trained Shalaa, a son of Invincible Spirit.

Buratino was making ground all the way to the line. The key to his success relies entirely on finding fast ground, with an opportunity to do that presents itself in the United States. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is under consideration.

In other Godolphin headlines, Tryster bounced back to winning ways with victory in a conditions race at Chelmsford City on Saturday night, making his score six from six now on all-weather tracks. He will be aimed at the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan in the New Year.

At the Curragh on Sunday, Anamba finished a fighting second to Coolmore in the G3 C L and M F Weld Park Stakes. She went down by half a length after the winner flew late, on the wide outside.

Godolphin's other big star of the weekend was Wedding Toast, who simply outclassed her rivals in Saturday's G1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park, New York, putting herself on target for the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland next month.

Kiaran McLaughlin said: "She was a class above them. She will train at Greentree (in Saratoga) now while the weather holds."