A pair of 3-year-olds with strong American connections will attempt classic glory in Europe this spring. Nownownow, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner from Fab Oak Stables, is being primed for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3, while Destare, bred and owned by George Strawbridge, could be headed to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, or French 1000 Guineas, at Longchamp on May 11.

Captain Thule's brave front-running performance landed him the $2.2 million Satsuki Sho, or Japanese 2000 Guineas, at Nakayama on Sunday, as he turned the tables on the three horses who had beaten him last time in the Yayoi Sho, the key Guineas prep.

Muthabara did her 1000 Guineas prospects no harm at all with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. The 9-4 favorite, she was making her 2008 debut, and she came from off the pace to cut down Dream Day in the 13-runner affair over seven furlongs.

Gliding's long journey to Japan for the $1.6 million Grand Nakayama Jump turned out to be a complete bust on Saturday as the gelding, trained by Paul Fout, trailed home last of the nine finishers in the 10-runner 2 5/8-mile steeplechase, distanced by the victorious Maruka Rascal and every other horse who finished the race.

Gliding's chances were not helped by Friday-night rainfall that turned the Nakayama turf course yielding. Sent off as the 17-1 sixth choice, he was never in contention.

Meiner Charles is the horse to beat in Sunday's Satsuki Sho at Nakayama. Better known in the Western world as the Japanese 2000 Guineas, the 1 1/4-mile turf contest is the first leg in the Japanese Triple Crown and carries a purse of $2.2 million.

Trained by Ryuichi Inaba, Meiner Charles has won his last three starts over the Satsuki Sho course and distance, the latest coming on March 9 in the key classic prep, the Yayoi Sho. A handy sort, he tends to race close up under regular rider Masami Matsuoka.

Great Leighs will become the first new racecourse in Britain to open its doors in 81 years on Sunday when the suburban London track will run seven races on its left-handed Polytrack oval.

Twice Over is Juddmonte Farm's newest classic hope. A son of Observatory trained by Henry Cecil, Twice Over outdueled Stonerside Stable's favored Raven's Pass to land the Group 3, $98,000 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday and is now third choice for the 2000 Guineas behind New Approach and Raven's Pass himself.

In prevailing by a short head, Twice Over completed the mile in 1:38.54 on good ground.

Gliding goes after the world's second-richest jump racing prize on Saturday when he takes on nine foes in the $1.6 million Grand Nakayama Jump at Nakayama Racecourse east of Tokyo.

An 8-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding trained by Paul Fout, Gliding won last year's Temple Gwathmey Hurdle and the Foxboro Supreme Hurdle. He prepped for his Japanese adventure with a third-place finish behind Preemptive Strike in the Imperial Cup at Aiken on March 22.

Never worse than fourth in his 15 jump races, he will be encountering steeplechase fences for the first time Saturday.

England's Tattersalls Craven 2-year-old sale in Newmarket, England, ended Thursday with steep gains that produced records across the board and the sale's highest price ever for a filly.

Infallible was so impressive in winning Wednesday's Group 3, $98,000 Nell Gwyn Stakes that she was immediately installed as the favorite for the classic 1000 Guineas on May 4.