With Royal Ascot just over two weeks away, those hoping to do Australia proud are honing their preparations before the start of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 16th June.
Brazen Beau, Wandjina and Shamal Wind are due to be shipped over from Australia next week and will join their compatriot Criterion, who is already here at John Gosden’s stable in Newmarket.
Co-Trainer David Hayes is travelling to England after racing at Flemington on Saturday for Criteron’s scheduled gallop at Ascot on Tuesday.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him," Hayes said. "We're giving Criterion a bit of atmosphere by taking him from Newmarket to Ascot.
"It's a simulated day out a bit over two weeks before his grand final."
Meanwhile, connections of Shamal Wind have lined up Ryan Moore as their preferred jockey for the Royal Meeting.
Robert Smerdon's charge was last seen when winning a first Group One at Caulfield in Australia back in February and is being aimed at the King's Stand Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
If Moore isn’t available then Smerdon will turn to top Australian jockey Damien Oliver, who is already set to ride fellow Australian hope Wandjina later in the week.
“Ryan Moore is the jockey of choice and he has said if he's not required by Coolmore, then he'll ride her," Smerdon told www.racing.com.
"It was too far out for him to know whether Coolmore require him or not.
"Damien is going to be at Ascot to ride Wandjina, so he put his hand up and said if Ryan's not available he'll do the job.
"So that was the point of this morning's exercise that he get a feel for her, he's never ridden her before, he's now been on her back under a race-day scenario and he might get the chance to jump on her over there as well.
"If we don't get Ryan Moore, it'll be Damien."
Brazen Beau and Wandjina had an 800m jumpout at Flemington on Thursday before they prepare to fly over to Ascot. Their trainers, Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse were in attendance and were both impressed with their colts.
Chris Waller said: "They looked like they built momentum and were strong through the line, both Brazen Beau and Wandjina.”
Gai Waterhouse added: “Opposition never worries me. I’m very respectful of Brazen Beau, he’s a magnificent horse, and I was blown away at how well he looked this morning.”
It was a close competition with Brazen Beau just edging out Wandjina, and it gives Waller great confidence.
"That’s exactly what we wanted to see, a few weeks away from a major race on the other side of the world."
Brazen Beau’s race is dependent on the weather and his race will be chosen last minute, but their aim is the Diamond Jubilee. Depending on that outcome he would then remain in the UK and compete atNewmarket in the Darley July Cup.
Similarly, options remain open for Wandjina. “I’m not concerned which race he runs in. We would not be going if we were not confident”, says Waterhouse. However, she is very proud of her runner taking his place in the Royal Meeting.
"The magnitude of the meeting, the world’s best horses and jockeys, Her Majesty The Queen, it’s in a league of its own.”
Tickets for this year’s Royal Meeting are selling fast with Silver Ring and Grandstand tickets on Saturday sold out. Grandstand tickets on Thursday are also now sold out, with limited availability for Silver Ring.
For more information and to secure your tickets to the world’s most famous race meeting click here.
