Aussies Joliestar, Overpass Favored in Ascot Sprints

Top Australian sprinters Joliestar and Overpass experienced Ascot Racecourse for the first time the morning of June 12 as they completed separate workouts on the track.

Both head the betting for their respective group 1 targets at the Royal Ascot meet next week, with Overpass lining up in the June 16 King Charles III Stakes (G1) and Joliestar tackling the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) June 20.

Joliestar boasts a formidable record Down Under for Chris Waller, with five group 1 victories including the 2023 Thousand Guineas (G1) over a mile, as well as two of Australia's premier 6-furlong sprints: the 2025 Newmarket Handicap (G1) and April 4 T. J. Smith Stakes (G1). The connections hope the 5-year-old follows in the footsteps of compatriots Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, and Black Caviar, who all won the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington Racecourse prior to Royal Ascot success.

Waller meanwhile goes for his second Royal Ascot victory, having saddled Nature Strip  to win the 2022 King's Stand Stakes (now the King Charles III Stakes).

Waller's assistant Charlie Duckworth said: "Joliestar had a gallop this morning over 800 meters, 15 seconds per furlong for the first 2 furlongs before quickening up under a nice hold for the last 2 furlongs. We are racing a week tomorrow, which gives us time for another gallop next week. Today was more about having a look at the track, pre-parade ring, and parade ring, just to familiarize her with the surroundings. It was a confidence-boosting piece of work rather than a gut-buster as she has only been in the country eight days.

"Her form in Australia is rock solid. She has won her last three starts, including the T. J. Smith Stakes against a really good field. She put them to bed quite well that day on a track that was probably softer than she likes, so I don't think she has been in as good a form. We are unsure how to marry that up against the opposition for next Saturday, but we are going off the fact that Nature Strip won the T. J. Smith Stakes and was good enough to come here and do us all proud.

"Joliestar won the Guineas over a mile as a 3-year-old and, although we have dropped her back to sprinting subsequently, that gives us confidence that she can see out the stiff 6 furlongs. With Nature Strip, 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) was his absolute max, which is why he went to the King Charles III Stakes.

"It is a huge thrill to be here again, especially for Cambridge Stud who selected Joliestar as a yearling. It has been a journey in terms of working out her best distance. I don't think there are many who win a Guineas and then four group 1 races over 1,200 meters. It is pretty exciting and I think she is a worthy favorite, although I am probably biased."

Joliestar's owner Cambridge Stud is no stranger to Royal Ascot success, having co-owned 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes victor Hello Youmzain  in partnership with Haras d'Etreham. The New Zealand-based operation belongs to Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, who were on hand to watch the workout.

Lady Jo Lindsay said: "Chris had the idea of bringing Joliestar to Royal Ascot last year, but she wasn't quite ready. She has matured since then and comes here having won three group 1 races over the course of our season. Being favorite brings a bit more expectation, which is not nice because we are already nervous. However, it is very exciting at the same time.

"When Hello Youmzain won, we could not be here because of COVID, so we watched on the sofa at 3 o'clock in the morning. We had a quick glass of champagne and then went back to bed. We alternated the colors with Haras d'Etreham and it worked out that he carried our colors that day, which made it extra special. Royal Ascot is one of the great carnivals, so we are delighted to be here this time and take in the whole experience."

Sir Brendan Lindsay said: "Joliestar is the ultimate professional and just gets on with her job. Being at the top of the market does not make them run faster, but I think she deserves to be there because she is a champion in her own right with five group 1 wins.

"We have invested a fair bit of money into Cambridge Stud and the broodmare band. We have Charyn coming down to stand with us this year, which is a real coup, and we also have a Guineas winner in Chaldean as well. What happens with Joliestar after this race has not been decided, but hopefully we will be back here again in the future."

Overpass is set to be a first runner at the Royal Meeting for trainer Bjorn Baker, who had a spell working in London for German pharmaceutical company Merck.

Overpass has posted several lucrative victories in Western Australia, including back-to-back renewals of the Winterbottom Stakes (G1), and the 7-year-old was fourth behind Joliestar in the T. J. Smith Stakes on his only outing this year.

Baker said: "We wanted Overpass to get two things out of today. Firstly, a little bit of fitness with a good hit-out ahead of the race on Tuesday. Then we wanted to give him the race day experience, coming around the mounting yard and paddock. Hopefully, that will help him relax better come race day, which is an important part of what we do. Generally, if my horses parade well, and they are in the right races, they tend to run well. For all it is a slightly different ballgame here.

"Overpass has been a remarkable horse. He is very much best fresh, which means we space out his runs. He ran very well in the T. J. Smith Stakes, albeit on a track that was probably too wet for him. The options were Brisbane or here, so given that we want to sell the dream worldwide, we decided to come here. Royal Ascot is one of the great carnivals, while the King Charles III Stakes is a very prestigious race. Added to the fact Australian sprinters have run very well here in the past, that gives us a bit of confidence.

"I guess the stiff, straight 5 furlongs here is a little bit of a question mark. Overpass has raced three times down the straight at Flemington, including winning a sales race comfortably enough as a 3-year-old. Early on in his career, he ran very well behind Nature Strip over 1,100 meters (about 5 1/2 furlongs) and you could argue that is his best distance. He has tended to run over 1,200 meters because that is how the races have fallen.

"It is hard to know if he is a worthy favorite. I lived up here for four years between London and Dublin, so I used to know the form inside out. At the end of the day, you can only worry about your own horse and I do not pay too much attention to odds."

Overpass was ridden by his regular jockey Josh Parr, who added: "I was really happy with him. I am glad he came here this morning to have a look around. He seemed to take everything in while handling the rise in the straight really well. He had a nice blow pulling up, which gives me confidence that it was enough work to have him ready for Tuesday.

"If moments like this do not get you excited, you are probably in the wrong business. I was very eager to come this morning, just to get that final feel for him. In the past, his final gallop before a race has proved a true guide of how he will perform in the race. To see him stretching out so well and reaching a significant speed suggests that he is in good shape for Tuesday."