Australian runners at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is a sporting institution intrinsically linked to British summertime and in the modern era it has also established itself as a destination for the world's best racehorses to come and display their talents in prestigious races.

The Paul Perry-trained Choisir became the first Australian-based scorer at Royal Ascot in 2003, famously becoming the first horse in 83 years to win the King's Stand/Golden Jubilee double.

Since then, a further seven Aussie winners have come at the Royal meeting, including the likes of Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Nature Strip (2022) and Asfoora (2024) in the King Charles III Stakes (formerly known as the King's Stand Stakes).

Sprinting has been the key, with Black Caviar in 2012 and Merchant Navy in 2018 winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Here's our look at some potential Australian contenders at Royal Ascot this year, from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th June.

Overpass - King Charles III Stakes (Tuesday)

Odds: 5/2

Overpass will be a first runner in Britain for Bjorn Baker and currently heads the market for Tuesday's Group 1 sprint.

Baker has enjoyed a terrific 14 months, recording five Group 1 victories in Australia, though Overpass was fourth on his most recent run in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in April behind fellow Royal Ascot raider Joliestar.

He did most of the running up front that day and his trainer was happy with what he saw when Overpass completed some work on the grass at Ascot on Friday.

Overpass also holds an entry in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, with the trainer suggesting he'll see what happens on Tuesday and how the horse comes out of that assignment before confirming a plan.

Asfoora - King Charles III Stakes (Tuesday)

Odds: 9/1

Asfoora won the King Charles III Stakes under Oisin Murphy in 2024 as a 5/1 chance, powering home late to deny Ed Bethell's Regional in second spot.

She was denied in two further UK outings that summer, second in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and fourth in York's Nunthorpe, and was only fifth in this race last year.

She roared back to win the Nunthorpe at York with the champion jockey on board and added the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp for good measure.

Her form this season in two UK runs at Newmarket and Haydock leave her with some questions to answer now aged seven.

Joliestar - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Saturday)

Odds: 2/1

Top trainer Chris Waller will be hoping Joliestar can become the third Aussie winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (formerly the Diamond Jubilee Stakes).

Her recent form includes wins in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick and she's a five-time winner at the top level.

Waller won the King Charles III Stakes with Nature Strip in 2022, ensuring he knows what is needed, and his star had a workout on the Ascot turf last Friday.

Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth is happy with preparations, stating: "We've been trying to work back from Ascot for quite a long time now and she's taken it all in her stride.

"She's one of the best sprinters in Australia and she's won similar races to the ones Nature Strip won before he came here."

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.