Can Our two Aussie Flyers Dominate England Again Tonight
Historically, Aussie sprinters going to England aiming at the Royal Ascot sprinting crown jewels, have been more profitable than English stayers going down under for the Melbourne Cup.
Trainers and punters over there now know, the European speedsters cannot match us. So, come Royal Ascot time, they fear the might of the Australian-made speedster.
It all started back in 2003 when Choisir went over, and destroyed them in two races within a week. They, the English racing aristocracy, were stunned by the impertinence shown.
How could a horse come that far, win a Gr 1 firstly (the King’s Stand which is now called the King Charles 111 and is run tonight), then back up a few days later and do it all again in the Gr 1 Golden Jubilee? Impossible, but it happened and the floodgates opened shortly there after.
Choisir went back in 2004 and was 3rd.
Then in 2006 Takeover Target won the King’s Stand and was 3rd in the Golden Jubilee, cementing the fact our homebred speedsters were, super, super tough.
In 2007, Takeover Target went back and was 4th then 2nd a few days later.
Miss Andretti won the King’s Stand that year for Australia.
In 2008 Takeover Target again went there and was 2nd in the King’s Stand, and followed it up with a 2nd in the Golden Jubilee.
In 2009 Scenic Blast went over and won the King’s Stand, followed a year later by Star Witness who was 2nd in the same race.
Star Witness went back a year later and was placed in both the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee.
We all remember Black Caviar’s remarkable Diamond Jubilee win under duress in 2012.
Then in 2015 Brazen Beau was 2nd in the King’s Stand while Wandjina was 3rd in the Golden Jubilee.
No joy with two runners Holler and Flamberge in 2016, but neither were disgraced either, Holler running 4th.
In 2017 Redkirk Warrior was 5th in the Diamond Jubilee and in 2018 Merchant Navy won the Diamond Jubilee.
In 2022 the great Nature Strip easily won the King’s Stand while Home Affairs and Artorius both placed in the now called Platinum Jubilee.
And, our latest visitor is one of the ones engaged tonight, the flying Asfoora. She won the King Charles in 2024 and is heavily supported to win it again tonight.
But, she has to face our sprinting warhorse Overpass, who has been installed favourite by the English bookmakers. And that, based entirely upon the precedent set by all those Aussie pioneers before him.
Overpass, as we know, is a multiple Gr 1 winner in Australia and his Quokka wins along with his Winterbottom Stakes wins, have made him a super selection for a race like tonight.
He has won $12.2million in prizemoney, loves racing fresh which he is tonight, winning 4 times first up and being 2nd 4 times as well. He is just as happy on fast or slow tracks but has poor heavy form. It is expected the track will be good tonight suiting both our runners.
What separates him from all other runners is his ability to hold speed while fresh. He has run 1200m in 1.08 on numerous occasions and that sort of speed is NOT matched by the English raiders. Plus, he will be ridden by his regular hoop, Josh Parr.
As for Asfoora, she will be well fancied having won in 2024, but she has raced twice this year, both times at Haydock, and on both occasions weakened late to finish down the track.
Her trainer, Henry Dwyer, believes she is in much better shape now for Ascot but take on trust.
As for the locals, the main opposition to our runners should come from only a handful.
Despite 26 acceptors who will spread across the track, some going hard early, and some being back markers, these are the top few threats:
Guaranteed early speed
- Live In The Dream — the fastest first‑200m horse in the field. (Well, if Overpass goes hard that may be in question)
- Big Evs — pure juvenile speed baby of the field; only knows one way.
- Thunder Moor — will try to cross and lead his group but can he lead the entire field? If he can’t he loses.
- Overpass — not a “tearaway” anymore, but naturally musters and sits right on the speed. If he does lead early, it means, game over. He wins.
Likely to sit just behind the speedsters
- Asfoora — perfect stalker; sits 2–3 lengths off the hot speed if she is back to her best.
- Equality — can sit handy without overdoing it and has finishing speed.
- Seven Questions — tactical speed but not suicidal. He will be in top 5 pretty much all the way.
Backmarkers who need a meltdown
- Mitbaahy – brilliant finisher but needs the the race collapse with speedsters burning each other out)
- Twilight Calls – has a great Ascot record. Horses for courses.
- Significantly – always runs on but Gr 1 is a test.
- Regional -if they ride then cold, he has shown finishing ability.
By way of dismissal, narrowing your selection choices down, I’m confident that on supplied form to date you best eliminate these.
Gr 2/Gr 3 horses masquerading as Gr 1 chances
- Makarova
- Get Ahead
- Nymphadora
- Equality
Not Gr 1 horses
- Canyonlands
- Thunder Moor
- Significantly
- Wallop
- The Wizard of Eye
All in all though, Overpass is the key. If he is cherry-ripe I see no challenges to him what-so-ever.
Bias aside, he is the most complete 1000m horse in the race: has brilliant gate speed, sustained cruising, straight‑track power, and a lethal last 300m kick. Handles pressure. Handles firm. Handles big fields.
He currently is a $3.70 chance on palmberbet.com
Tips: 1. Overpass, 2. Twilight Calls, 3. Mitbaahy, 4. Asfoora