No stopping Opera Ballo in Sandown Park rout

Opera Ballo maintained a sensational start to his year as he readily defeated a top-quality field in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park on Friday.

Dropping back in trip following an easy success in January’s G1 Jebel Hatta, the Ghaiyyath colt made all on his European return to score by three lengths over dual G1 winner Field Of Gold, who was receiving 5lb from the Godolphin runner.

Opera Ballo has now won seven of his nine career starts and he looks set to head to France in search of more G1 glory in next month’s Prix Aga Khan IV, where he could face Sunday’s impressive Prix Ganay winner Daryz.

Snappy Dresser is also building up an enviable strike-rate in Japan, and the full-brother to US G2 winner Caramel Swirl made it three wins from five appearances with an allowance race victory at Tokyo on Sunday.

Winston completed a quick-fire double at Fukushima on Saturday as he got up close home to win his first Stakes race. The four-year-old sprinter was returning to the same track just seven days after scoring in an allowance race.

This weekend sees the first Classics take place in the UK and the USA, although a lack of Godolphin contender for the Kentucky Derby means there will be no repeat of last year’s clean sweep at Newmarket and Churchill Downs.

Three of this weekend’s big races are due to feature royal blue runners, with Bella Ballerina bidding to emulate her half-sister Pretty Mischievous in the G1 Kentucky Oaks on Friday night.

G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes third Distant Storm look set to spearhead a three-strong Godolphin challenge for the G1 2,000 Guineas on Saturday alongside the unbeaten King’s Trail and Avicenna, who shaped well when taking second in the G3 Craven Stakes.

Abashiri lines up in Sunday’s G1 1,000 Guineas having won her only start by four lengths, with G2 winner My Highness in the mix for the fillies’ Classic after filling the runner-up spot in her trial in France.

Exciting older horse Knightsbridge brings a four-race winning streak into his first G1 appearance in the Churchill Downs Stakes on Saturday. East Avenue, eighth behind Sovereignty in last year’s Kentucky Derby, returns for this year’s meeting in Friday’s G2 Alysheba Stakes.

A busy week sees Wise Approach make his first start since winning September’s G1 Middle Park Stakes at Ascot on Friday when he goes on trial for the Commonwealth Cup – a card that could also feature last year’s G2 Dubai Gold Cup victor Dubai Future.