Royal Ascot 2026: Australian sprint stars are ready to bring their 'A-game' as they target royal riches at the prestigious meeting next week. Joliestar and Overpass got their first glimpse of the Ascot racetrack during a workout on Friday ahead of their engagements.
Overpass Favourite for King Charles III Stakes
Overpass, a ten-time winner of £6.7 million in prize money, is the 5-2 favourite with William Hill for the £700,000 five-furlong King Charles III Stakes. He joins Joliestar in attempting to add to Australia's impressive record at Royal Ascot, where eight victories have been recorded in the King Charles III Stakes or Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes from 48 runners.
Asfoora, the 2024 King Charles winner, will also line up again next Tuesday after wintering in Newmarket, but she is a 12-1 chance. Overpass was given a workout up the Ascot straight by regular jockey Josh Parr, who paid his first visit to the track, in front of trainer Bjorn Baker.
Jockey Josh Parr Excited for Challenge
“I’m really excited about the challenge,” said Parr. “If moments like these don’t get you excited, you’re probably in the wrong business. I was very eager to come and get that final feel of him. This final gallop is a true guide of how he will perform in the race and seeing him out there stretching out so well and reaching a significant speed, suggests that he was in good shape to run well Tuesday. We feel that he does but we won’t know until I press the button on Tuesday and let him loose. But he has the right racing style, he’s a tough horse and a very good competitor so I hope he brings his A-game.”
Joliestar Favourite for Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Joliestar, trained by Chris Waller, is the 9-4 favourite for the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Her five Group 1 victories include the Newmarket Handicap up the Flemington straight, a race that compatriots Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, and Black Caviar all won before triumphing at Royal Ascot.
Waller’s assistant Charlie Duckworth said: “Her form is rock solid in Australia. She’s won her last three starts and her last start in the TJ Smith was against a really good field and she put them to bed quite well on a track that was probably softer than she likes. I don’t think she’s ever been in as good form. We are unsure how to marry that up against the opposition but we are more or less going off the form that Nature Strip won the TJ and was good enough to come here and do us all proud. I think she is a worthy favourite.”
