In what is shaping up to be the best weekend of world wide racing we will see all year, every continent that we showcase on this site are holding some of the most prestigious races in their season featuring some of their respective top horses.  Based on that we will be starting the international previews early, in order to also allow for a detailed build up to our big one, the Kentucky Derby this Saturday.

Meanwhile, the outstanding international action starts Wednesday, with the first of what will be five Gr-I’s alongside three Gr-II”s this week in Australia.

Action begins in Randwick, first in the Gr-I Australian Oaks (3yo, f, 2400m), where multiple Gr-I winner Zarita will look to further solidify her spot as the top filly in the country and will line up as the big favorite.  Her main foe looks like NZ filly Boundless, the NZ Oaks winner and already victor over older horses, as well as SA Oaks winner Queen of Queens. Tune in later for a preview of the Gr-II Sapphire Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 1200m), also to be run that day.

Moving on to Saturday, all eyes at Randwick Racecourse will be on the Gr-I Champagne Stakes (3yo+, 1600m) as the undefeated Sebring will go for the Grand Slam for Two Year Olds, following his wins the last two weeks in the Golden Slipper and the Produce Stakes.  The primary rival standing in his way will be All American, winner of Skyline Stakes, Produce place getter Samantha Miss, and perhaps Von Costa de Hero again. (Good luck to Sebring and hopefully it will be the first of many triple crowns we will see this year)

Following will be the Gr-I Sydney Cup (3yo+, 3200m), the two mile marathon being the 16th leg of the Australian Stayers Challenge. Cats Fun still tops the standing, with Young Centaur, Prize Lady, Tuesday Joy and the likely race favorite off his Chairman’s Handicap win last week, No Wine No Song, tied for second.  His main foes will be The Chieftain (18th), a dismall 13th in the Chairman’s but very likely due to the heavy although having beaten No Wine’ when he took the Manion Cup, Adeleide Cup Lacey Underall (5th-t),  NZ invader Pentathon, last out fifth in The BMW, and defending winner Count Tyrone.

Doncaster Handicap runner-up Casino Prince, George Ryder third place getter Gr-I winner Racing to Win and Phar Lap Stakes winner Acey Ducey will square in the Gr-I All Aged Stakes.

Doncaster Handicap winner Tuesday Joy headlines the Gr-I Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3yo+, 2000m), where he will battle NZ’s Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu. Defending race winner Desert War also will line up in what will be his last race before retiremente, last year’s version being the last time he came out on top.

Gr-I winner Camarilla looks the one to beat in the Gr-II Emancipation Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 1600m), and the we wrap up the weekend in Queensland with the Gr-II Hollindale Stakes (3yo+, 1800m), where the top two finishers in the Bright Shadow Quality Stakes, Vietnam and Lasoron top the field, the latter looking like the top choice over the longer course.  But watch out for NZ’s Gr-I winner Mission Critical, who might be shipped out for this race.