The European season's first stakes race on turf, the Group 3, $110,000 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud on Saturday, has attracted a high-class field of Group 2 caliber. Ashalanda, a 4-year-old filly owned by the Aga Khan, won twice at the Group 2 level last year, taking Saint-Cloud's Prix de Malleret and Newmarket's Pride Stakes. While those were both at 1 1/2 miles and against her own sex, Ashalanda, a daughter of Linamix trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, will probably be the favorite in this 1 1/4-mile contest against males.

Kauto Star will attempt to become the first horse in history to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups in nonconsecutive years when he defends his title in the $725,000 steeplechase over 22 fences and 3 5/16 miles on Friday. A 10-year-old French-bred, Kauto Star also won jump racing's most coveted prize in 2007 but was defeated a year later by his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Denman.

Binocular turned a near-miraculous return to form into victory in the $556,000 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday, powering to a 3 1/2-length score over Khyber Kim in what is widely regarded as the world's premier hurdle event. A half-length third in this race last year as the favorite, the 9-1 Binocular led under Tony McCoy after jumping the second-last hurdle and gave nothing else a chance the rest of the way.

Dubai World Cup favorite Gio Ponti heads an American team of nine horses who will contest five of the seven big races on March 27 at Meydan, where the $26 million program retains its position as the single richest day in Thoroughbred racing.

Happy Zero took full advantage of the absence of Sacred Kingdom to land the $580,000 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. A half-hour later Super Satin proclaimed himself the best 4-year-old in Hong Kong by taking the $2 million Hong Kong Derby.

The world's best steeplechase and hurdle meeting gets under way at Cheltenham on Tuesday with the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle the highlight on the first day of the four-day stand. The meeting culminates on Friday with the long-awaited third clash between Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup.

Sha Tin will be the site of two Hong Kong Group 1 races on Sunday, but the big news is the absence of Sacred Kingdom from the $580,000 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup. The world's highest rated sprinter will forgo the seven-furlong dash in favor of a tilt at the six-furlong, $2 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo in Japan on March 28.

Gitano Hernando is looking good for his March 27 date in the Dubai World Cup, trainer Marco Botti reported on his website on Friday. The Newmarket-based Botti was upbeat about the preparations of his recent Winter Derby Trial winner.

"He has come out of that race in good order and is training well," Botti said. "I thought the race at Lingfield was the perfect prep race for him, as they went a good pace and he was able to quicken up well without having a hard race. He should come on for his first run [of the season[ and be spot-on for Dubai."

John Velazquez has picked himself up a Dubai World Cup ride in the shape of Crowded House. Velazquez will replace Jamie Spencer on the colt, a Rainbow Quest 4-year-old who was most recently a half-length second to Allybar in Round 2 of the 1 3/16-mile, Group 3 Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Feb. 18.

Goldikova, twice winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile, will make her seasonal debut in the 1 1/8-mile, 55-yard Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp on May 23. Her trainer, Freddie Head, made that announcement at Auteuil on Sunday when Goldikova, a 5-year-old daughter of Anabaa owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, was named France's 2009 champion older horse.