France and a part of Spain scored an emotional win in Sunday's $3 million Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) when Chinchon emerged victorious to bag the coveted event for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias whose father passed away last Friday.

It was not so long ago that racehorses rarely ventured outside their own national borders but a quick look at this year's select band of international contenders for the AP QEII Cup at Sha Tin underlines just how much things have changed.

Trainer Luca Cumani is banking on a fast pace in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan this weekend to bring out the best in Presvis as the British challenger prepares to win the race for the second consecutive year.

Steve Burridge's Singapore slashers have chalked up yet another win with Dark Matter winning his second Dubai start in the Duty Free Handicap over 1400m turf and Musir winning the G2 Al Rashidya.

Seen as a main prep race for the Dubai Duty Free, Presvis last year managed to win both this race and the Duty Free.