With the forthcoming championship meetings coming up in the autumn in both Europe and North America, the spotlight is on the stars that will be attempting to display their preparedness for the big tests that lie ahead. Many of these hopefuls will be lined up at a pair of racetracks in the close vicinity of Dublin in Ireland, while some speedy types will assemble at Haydock Park in England for a Group 1 sprint. Finally, there are the “Arc” trials over at Chantilly in France!

Emirates interests are well represented in the 6 fur. Gr.1 32Red Haydock Sprint Cup Stakes, due off at 2:25 p.m. BST on Saturday, September 9^th. Undaunted by the presence of the Godolphin pair of the swift Harry Angel (by Dark Angel), with Adam Kirby up, and his closely-matched rival, Blue Point (by Shamardal) is owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, who is represented by Tasleet (by Showcasing). The last-named had disappointed last time out behind Harry Angel but has otherwise been consistent. Nor can one ignore The Tin Man (by Equiano) or Brando (by Pivotal), both of which are right up there in the ratings.

When the clock strikes 5:35 p.m. the same evening, a dozen fillies and mares will participate in the Gr.1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown. The star of the 2017 season in this category so far has been Winter (by Galileo), who has reeled off a skein of four Group 1 wins on the trot. The grey from the Ballydoyle Stables down the road in Tipperary is in great heart and is well poised to land the odds for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Her trainer also has Hydrangea (by Galileo), Rhododendron (by Galileo) and Roly Poly (by War Front) in the fray in a bid for a clean sweep. Taking them on are last year’s renewal’s second- and third-placed runners, Persuasive (by Dark Angel) and the talented French miss, Qemah (by Danehill Dancer), although the latter is the better fancied of the pair.

Seventy minutes later, some of the best runners in Europe are to be found in the 10-runner field for the Gr.1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (10 fur.). With neither Ulysses nor Barney Roy in the contest, Churchill, representing the same connections as the afore-mentioned Winter, looks to have an easy task. No race is won before it is run and one who might just prove to be worthy of all the praises showered upon him is Eminent (by Frankel). Frankie Dettori’s mount is well-held by Churchill on early season form this year but Eminent, a big made customer from Martyn Meade’s yard in Newmarket, is felt to have improved since. Support for this assertion comes from his all-the-way victory last month in the 2000 m. Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville.

Sir Michael Stoute is known for improving his wards with age and the four-year-old son of Poet’s Voice named Poet’s Word is an excellent example as he has posted higher ratings this year than he was able to in 2016. Coming off a fine win in the Betfred Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last month, he could find himself involved at the business end here. One of those with the shortest distance to travel between her home base and the racetrack is Dermot Weld’s fine five-year-old racemare, Zhukova (by Fastnet Rock), while another in the reckoning is Churchill’s stablemate, Cliffs Of Moher (by Galileo), who almost won the Investec Derby in June but has twice disappointed since.

Taking a drop in class – and distance – in an attempt to rediscover his form is Coolmore’s Caravaggio (by Scat Daddy), who goes in the 5 furlongs Derristown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, scheduled for 3:05 p.m. BST on Sunday, September 10^th. Eighteen probable rivals will insure a true run race on the slightly yielding going that has been forecast.

A clue to next year’s Guineas events in England and Ireland lies in the field for the 7 fur. Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, set for 3:40 p.m. It’s hardly surprising that schooler Aidan O’Brien holds the aces here, given that 5 of the 6 highest-rated two-year-old fillies engaged are from his yard. There is little between four daughters of Galileo in Magical, Happily, Clemmie and Ballet Shoes, and for that matter the well-thought-of September (by Deep Impact). The only worthwhile opposition to this quintet appears to be the Niarchos hope Alpha Centauri (by Mastercraftsman), a talented half-sister to Mebajeona Stud Farm’s stallion, Tenth Star.

The equivalent event for two-year-old males is the 7 fur. Gr.1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (4:15 p.m.), also over 7 fur., which has a prohibitively short-priced favourite in Gustav Klimt (by Galileo), a 4 to 7 chance. Since this highly regarded colt had displayed wayward tendencies last time out, better value may lie with the 11 to 2 second favourite Beckford (by Bated Breath), who so nearly became a first Group 1 winner for his Juddmonte-based sire when just knuckling under in the Gr.1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes four weeks ago.

It’s been 34 years since the Gr.1 Irish St. Leger was opened to older horses. Barring Order Of St. George (by Galileo) in 2015, no three-year-old has won since Vinnie Roe racked up the first of his four consecutive successes in 2001 – he also won at the ages of 4, 5 and 6! The very same Order Of St. George is back for another crack, having sunk punters in the same event last year when narrowly harried out of it at 7 to 1 on. This time he is a half money choice in the Comer Group-sponsored race, set for 4:50 p.m., as his principal rival, Big Orange (by Duke Of Marmalade) has been ruled out due to the unsuitable ground. The Queen’s Dartmouth (by Dubawi) could provide some worthwhile opposition.

In France all eyes will be on the Japanese ace Satono Diamond (by Deep Impact) making his first European effort in the Gr.2 Prix Foy (2400 m.). As it will be 133 days since he last competed, a win is not necessarily crucial to his chances in the “Arc”, but he needs to run well. It’s interesting to note that it is 25 years since a winner of the Prix Foy completed the double, although Orfevre went perilously close.

The same card also sees the running of the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600 m.) – even though the racing is not at Longchamp (due to renovations) but at Chantilly instead. Here Ribchester (by Iffraaj) is on a retrieval mission, his image having been slightly tarnished by his defeat in the Qatar Sussex Stakes last month. Godolphin’s standard-bearer will be accompanied by another in the same-coloured jacket in Inns Of Court (by Invincible Spirit) and another duo sporting what might be called “associated” silks – those of Hamdan Al Maktoum. The latter pair consists of Taareef (by Kitten’s Joy) and the revived Massaat (by Teofilo), both of which have a realistic shot at spicing up the finish. Lightning Spear (by Pivotal) could also have a say.

It’s worth noting that the same weekend also sees the Korean Autumn Racing Carnival over in Seoul and the KRA has invited some American-trained runners. Thus Linda Rice will saddle Papa Shot (by Distorted Humor) in the Keeneland Korea Cup, while Kenny McPeek sends across The Truth Or Else (by Yes Its True) in the Keeneland Korea Sprint. Both will be ridden by Dylan Davis, an up-and-coming 23-year-old American jockey. When will we see an Indian racing carnival with foreign participants?