It's back to Ascot for Group 1 action on Saturday with the Northerly Stakes. There is plenty of two-year-old action with the Aquis Stallions Calaway Gal Stakes and Eureka Stud Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm, Inglis Nursery at Randwick, Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic, the Magic Millions 2yo at Ascot, and the Thomas Farms Plate at Morphettville.
But we will head to Hong Kong for Sunday's International Race Day at Sha Tin.
While devoid of representation from Australia, The Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) holds lots of interest.
The Caulfield Cup runner-up West Winds Blows (IRE) makes his first start since finishing out of a place in the Mackinnon Stakes.
This year, the Irish-bred Galileo (IRE) mare Warm Heart has been sensational. The daughter of Fastnet Rock's triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren comes off Group 1 wins in the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille and was beaten a neck by the top-class Frankel mare Inspiral in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turd at Santa Anita.
To add to the excitement, Sea Siren has a Camelot half-brother to Warm Heart in the Coolmore draft heading to the Magic Millions in January.
Japa
If this is to be her swansong, hopefully, Geraldina will improve on her only previous trip to Hong Kong when sixth of seven behind Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup in April.
The Takashi Saito-trained mare is winless for over a year, and recent form has been patchy. But if she runs up to the form of her third to Equinox, beaten four lengths, in last year's season-ending Arima Kinen, she is not without a chance.
At Hanshin in June, Geraldina finished fourth, beaten a length and a half to Equinox in the Takarazuka Kinen, with Through Seven Seas second and Justin Place third. That's serious form.
While Geraldina failed at her lone attempt at Sha Tin, it's where her sire Maurice (JPN) cut his teeth.
The Arrowfield shuttler bounced off a disappointing three-year-old season to go seven for seven at four, reeling off three Group 1 wins culminating in the Hong Kong Mile.
It was back to Hong Kong for his seasonal debut in the Champions Mile and made it a perfect three for three at Sha Tin at his career finale when a three-length winner of the Hong Kong Cup.
Geraldina is the second foal of the phenomenal mare Gentildonna.
The daughter of Deep Impact won the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown, became the first three-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup, and was honoured as Japanese Horse of the Year.
At four, Gentildonna defended her title in the Japan Cup and at five, captured the Dubai Sheema Classic.
After a fourth behind Epiphaneia in her third Japan Cup, Gentildonna sent her adoring fans in raptures at her career finale in the Arima Kinen.
Gentildonna is the daughter of the top-class juvenile Donna Blini. The daughter of Bertolini won three of four starts at two, highlighted by the Group 1 Cherry Hinton Stakes and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
When her form fell away, Donna Blini was offered at Tattersalls in December 2006 and was bought for 500,000 gns by Katsumi Yoshida.
She has 12 foals, with eight winners from the 11 that have made it to the track.
While Gentildonna is clearly a standout, her sister Donau Blue was a dual Group III winner, finishing second in the Group 1 Victoria Mile and third in the Group 1 Mile Championship.
Donau Blue is the dam of the stakes-winner Donau Delta (Lord Kanaloa).
