International Racing Preview For The Weekend

The feature race in the US on Saturday evening is the Grade One Saratoga Derby International Stakes and Bolshoi Ballet for Aidan O'Brien heads back over to America looking to dominate again.

The three year old son of Galileo was seen three times as a juvenile, finishing third at Newmarket on debut over a mile in a Maiden and backing that up at Leopardstown over the same trip when getting off the mark for the first time in his career.

He was sent to Saint-Cloud for the Group One Criterium and could only finish a close up fifth behind some nice horses, wit the softer ground going against him.

The colt came back for his first race of the season over course and distance at Leopardstown and managed to land the Group Three Ballysax Stakes in good style.

It showed his versatility winning on good ground and having handled soft in the past he put him in good stead for his trip back over C&D in the Derrinstown Derby Trial.

Taking on the likes of Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney and Southern Lights who both head for the Derby, he left the field for dead to win the Group Three event over 1m2f.

Sent to Epsom for the Derby as favourite, a cut to the leg halted his progress as he wilted home into seventh and from there was a given a small break.

O'Brien got him spot on and last time out he bounced back in a big way to land the Belmont Derby over 1m2f in the US, winning very comfortably.

He is the favourite to do the same at Saratoga on Saturday and we can't see past him if he's in the same form.

The feature race of the weekend in France is the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest and the American raider Campanelle for Wesley Ward is our selection, in what looks a hell of a contest.

Campanelle is a daughter of Kodiac and she made her debut at Gulfstream on firm ground and went on to bolt up in a decent field and unlike previous seasons he was one of few Ward runners to get off the mark at the first time of asking.

She was then sent to Royal Ascot in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs and beat a solid field of runners and the form has since been franked with second, third, fourth and fifth all running credible races after that event.

Campanelle was then sent to France over six furlongs for the first time in the Group One Prix Morny and in soft ground she dominated a good field of juveniles to take the event.

The filly rounded off last term at Keeneland in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and although finishing a fair fourth behind the 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth and smart Aunt Pearl, the mile was too far for her.

This season she made her seasonal debut on heavy ground at Royal Ascot in the six furlong Group One Commonwealth Cup.

She battled it out to the line with smart sprinter Dragon Symbol and although being second past the post, took the race in the steward room keeping her unbeaten record at the track.

She is superb on both good, soft and heavy ground and having won at this track before she can't be overlooked.

Starman the danger if the ground turns up quick.

Germany host some stellar racing on Sunday and the feature event of the afternoon is the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin over 1m4f.

It sees two British raiders make the trip for black type glory and having swerved the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes, Alpinista for Sir Mark Prescott should go close, handling all types of ground.

Th filly stole the show at Haydock in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks last time out, staying the 1m4f the best of the chasing pack to make it back to back wins.

The four year old daughter of Frankel had shown last season just how good she can be when chasing home the superstar Love in the Epsom Oaks and now she has trained on again this season with her latest win being the biggest of her career.

Having started the season off landing a Listed event at Goodwood over 1m4f, the step up to the Group Two was the natural progression and she stays so well.

Going up into this company sees her need to improve again but she looks the most interesting runner to us.