Racing: Viva or Presvis?

DUBAI - Group 1 action returns to both Europe and the international circuit this weekend with Sunday's Prix Ganay, in France, the first Group 1 of the European season following two Group 1s in Hong Kong earlier in the day.

Not surprisingly, the Dubai International Racing Carnival form and that of World Cup night will come under scrutiny at Sha Tin in Hong Kong and the Group 1 Audemars Piquet QEII Cup features three runners who contested the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night.

Luca Cumani's Presvis, a dual winner at the Carnival, fared best of the trio when second to the remarkable Gladiatorus and should go well again.

Australia's Niconero was fourth at Nad Al Sheba but the pair may struggle to confirm Dubai form with Mike De Kock's Archipenko; he won this Hong Kong feature last year and is better than able to show in this year's Duty Free. Local hope Viva Pataca looks likely to start favourite as he bids for a seventh Group 1 win.

CHAMPIONS' MILE

Godolphin's Alexandros produced a career best when third in the Duty Free and takes his chance in the Champions' Mile. He was a dual Carnival winner earlier in his Dubai campaign but faces another six time Group 1 winner in Good Ba Ba who won this race last year from the re-opposing Armada.

He was beaten last time by Egyptian Ra though, while Hong Kong Derby winner Collection will go close if able to cope with the drop in distance. De Kock's Imbongi was unlucky last time and arrives a fresh horse.

LONGCHAMP ACTION

Godolphin could be represented by Trincot in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp in which Tajaaweed, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, could also travel over from Newmarket.

He is trained by Sir Michael Stoute who also has Tartan Bearer as an alternative, though both are entered at Sandown on Saturday, while Aidan O'Brien could rely on Thewayyouare. He could be joined from Ireland by Dermot Weld's Famous Name, while Vision D'Etat may lead the home defence.

SANDOWN TRIAL

Tomorrow is the Sandown Classic Trial but it was 1986 since this threw up the Epsom Derby winner and that was the arguably fortunate Shahrastani in the year Dancing Brave should probably have won.

Benny The Dip was second in this race in 1997 before winning at Epsom, while Old Vic, winner in 1989, did win the Irish Derby. Marcus Tregoning's Taameer, owned by Shaikh Hamdan, looks an interesting probable runner, along with whatever challengers arrive from Ireland – Jim Bolger's Gan Amhras likely to be joined by a once raced unbeaten colt of Aidan O'Brien's – be it Byzantine or Malibu Bay.

ASSET ON SHOW

Godolphin have been very selective with their runners in the UK – where they have arrived about a month earlier than normal – but Carnival form should get an airing at Leicester on Saturday night when Asset, a Nad Al Sheba winner this year, is set to take his chance in the Listed Leicestershire Stakes. Ted Durcan will ride and Shaikh Hamdan's Aqlaam could be the main danger.