Global Weekly Preview: Rain, Rain....A soggy saga worldwide

It is hard to truly comprehend what an effect the weather and track conditions can have on a day's racing. Take this weekend -- in Australia and the UK.

Under normal circumstances, the outstanding mare Winx would be preparing for a grand entrance at Royal Randwick, Sydney, as she attempts to register her 11th consecutive win (including 5 Group 1 races) in Saturday's G2 Chelmsford Stakes.

A fanfare of trumpets would indeed be appropriate for this brilliant daughter of celebrated Darley stallion Street Cry. Instead, it has become a "will she, won't she" story about her likelihood of participation following 40mm of rain, a deluge by even Sydney standards.

A Heavy 9 is not very appealing to many. No wonder marketing experts have such a hard time in finding the right peg on which to hang the promotion of a raceday.

Yes, racing is an outdoor sport. But, just occasionally, you feel envious when tennis can close the roof at Wimbledon or Rod Laver and carry on, oblivious to the elements outside.

Godolphin's Hartnell finished an admirable second to Winx in the G2 Warwick Stakes -- and he again looks to hold a solid chance in a race in which the drawcard may not appear. Check the scratchings board.

At Haydock in the UK, something similar could occur. Trainer Henry Candy has declared the G1 July Cup winner Limato for the G1 32Red Sprint Cup -- but he insists he wants genuinely Good ground. With "scattered showers" forecast, yet another case of being in the lap of the rain gods.

Apart from all that, it is another important weekend from a global perspective.

Darting around different venues -- no logical order is applied in this instance -- Godolphin's American star Frosted attempts to define his racing programme for the remainder of the year in the G1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.

His versatility will give jockey Joel Rosario options as he works out the tactics in this nine-furlong feature on dirt.

In the UK, Sky Hunter carries the royal blue colours of Godolphin in the G3 September Stakes on the all-weather track at Kempton Park. It is his first outing since finishing unplaced in last year's G1 Melbourne Cup.

And, at Moonee Valley in Melbourne, the G1 ATC Derby winner Tavago reappears for the first time since his Classic win at Randwick last April.

If you like your international racing, you will love this weekend.