Australia's rowing women's eight has the chance to be the Cinderella story of the London Olympics after earning qualification in Switzerland.

Goodwood Racecourse welcomes in the new season on Saturday, May 5, with a pair of Listed contents for fillies and mares headlining a highly-informative seven-race card.

Italian Daniela Merighetti has claimed her maiden World Cup victory at the age of 30 when she won the women's downhill in Italy.