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| Sumita Pawar |
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This month, a grand entourage of globetrotters will journey to Royal Ascot - but which elite members from down under should you keep a keen eye out for?
Coolangatta Ready To Conquer Royal Ascot
Coolangatta, the talented dual Group One winner, blazed a trail toward Royal Ascot after her impressive victory in the Black Caviar Stakes at Flemington in February.
She's a force to be reckoned with three wins out of four starts over five furlongs.
Now, she's set to take on the King's Stand Stakes on the opening day of the meeting, under the guidance of Melbourne Cup-winning trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. They're eager to secure their first Royal Ascot victory alongside their star filly.
Wellington Aims For Global Sprinting Glory
Representing the esteemed stable of Group One champion trainer Richard Gibson, the premier sprinter is set to take the racing world by storm in his final hurrah under Gibson's guidance.
With four domestic top-level wins already under his belt, including consecutive triumphs in the Chairman's Sprint Prize and a victory at the prestigious Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin,
Wellington is poised to make his mark on the global stage.
Although he has been bested by Hong Kong sensation Lucky Sweynesse in four previous races this year, Wellington is ready to make his debut in Britain at the illustrious Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Although she lost her position as favourite for the Group One contest after a disappointing workout last week, Coolangatta's recent performance has been encouraging.
Artorius Seeks Redemption In Jubilee Stakes
In the highly anticipated Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.10), all eyes are on Artorius as he aims to redeem himself after a heart-wrenching loss in the same race last year. The speedy Australian contender had shared the third place with Wesley Ward's Campanelle, trailing the winner Naval Crown by a mere three-quarters of a length. Despite his valiant efforts, Artorius had to settle for the third spot once again in the July Cup at Newmarket three weeks later.
However, Artorius refused to be disheartened and bounced back with a vengeance, delivering a stunning performance and achieving a career-best Racing Post Rating with his second Group 1 triumph at Randwick in March. Although he was narrowly defeated by the formidable Anamoe in his most recent outing, the four-year-old sprinter has proven time and again that he is a force to be reckoned with. No wonder he is the hot favorite to win the Jubilee Stakes.
Cannonball Joins The Royal Sprinting Fray
The Snowdens have enlisted Cannonball, a swift Australian sprinter, to join the royal festivities at Royal Ascot. His spot was secured after a third-place finish in the prestigious Kia Ora Galaxy, where he proved his mettle against top contenders like Mariamia. Once trained by the Freedmans, who also trained Artorius, Cannonball has already claimed a Group Three victory under his new team's tutelage.
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes or King's Stand Stakes will soon witness the lightning-fast moves of this talented runner.
With entries secured for both of Royal Ascot's top-tier sprint competitions, this contender is currently the favourite for the King's Stand Stakes, where he'll be racing alongside fellow Australian speedster, Coolangatta. While he's a bit of a long shot for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, he's got two solid companions in Artorius and The Astrologist to help him make a run for the crown.
Australia's Royal Ascot stars, Artorius, Coolangatta, and Cannonball, have set off for England. They were safely transported onto the plane and will be competing in different races at Royal Ascot. Artorius will face The Astrologist in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, while Coolangatta and Cannonball will be competing in the King's Stand Stakes. The horses will be stabled in different locations, with Coolangatta staying in Lambourne and the others in Newmarket for their UK campaigns.