International Races to watch this weekend for emerging 2012 Cup contenders.

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International action this weekend Following are key races to watch with comments from Racing Victoria's international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon; Sandown (UK) G2 Bet365 Mile (1600m) Broadcast live on SKY 1 at 11.20pm (AET) Tonight Leigh Jordon's Comment Favourite Dubawi Gold and the Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name will be the ones to watch. Sandown (UK) G3 Gordon Richards Stakes (2000m) SKY 2 at 12.45am (AET) Sunday morning Comment Always a good race to follow with horses often starting off their campaigns. I'll be interested to see how last year's three-year-olds return and how the older horses Sri Putra and Twice Over perform. Ripon (UK) Conditions Stakes (2400m) SKY 2 at 1.40am (AET) Sunday morning Comment Former German horse Ibicenco makes his debut for Australian owners OTI Racing and trainer Luca Cumani. He was second in the G1 Preis von Europa behind Campanologist and is a likely Cups contender so it will be interesting to see how he performs. Kyoto (Japan) G1 Tenno Sho (3200m) SKY 2 at 4.40pm (AET) on Sunday afternoon Comment A collection of Japan's best stayers with most capable of being highly competitive in a Melbourne Cup. Orfvere is a star and is likely to be headed to the Arc so I'll be closely watching Beat Black, Cosmo Robin, Gustave Cry, Jaguar Mail, Rose Kingdom, Tosen Jordan and Win Variation as more likely Cups targets. Sha Tin (Hong Kong) G1 QE11 Cup (2000m) TVN, SKY 2, SKY World at 6.35pm (AET) on Sunday night Comment Terrific race with top class locals like California Memory and internationals like Rulership and Treasure Beach engaged. Hopefully a Cox Plate contender or two can emerge from this race because it is an event we're keen to build internationally. Longchamp (France) G1 Prix Ganay (2100m) SKY 2 at 11.40pm (AET) on Sunday night Comment This race was won by Planteur last year who ran third in the recent Dubai World Cup and shapes as a Cox Plate contender. Local star Cirrus Des Aigles is high on our wish list for the Cox Plate, whilst there'll be plenty of interest in So You Think if he runs. Longchamp (France) G3 Prix de Barbeville (3100m) SKY 2 at 12.10am (AET) on Monday morning Comment This was race was won by Dunaden last year en route to his Melbourne Cup victory. 2010 Cup-winning trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has Vadamar and Ivory Land engaged, whilst Brigantin is another I'm interested to see.