Royal Ascot could have another major Australian contender this year, with Charm Stone being lined up for a tilt at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
She could join fellow Australian challenger Joliestar, whose own Royal Ascot bid was confirmed after she landed a fifth Group 1 in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Chris Waller, Joliestar heads the ante-post market at 3-1 with William Hill and, like Charm Stone, will bid to become the first Australian-trained winner of the race since Black Caviar in 2012.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Charm Stone is set to run in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on April 26, after which a trip to Britain could be on the cards.
"At this stage, yes, the plan is to go to Royal Ascot," said Price. "We’ve got the feasibility pretty much sorted and there’s time for the vaccinations. We’ll stay with Charlie Fellowes in Newmarket. I’m not going to try to reinvent her."
Royal Ascot here we come! Australian sprinter Joliestar tees up trip to Britain with fifth Group 1 win in TJ Smith Stakes
Price added that leading jockey Damian Lane is primed to travel from Japan to take the ride, although he has not partnered the mare on any of her last five starts, during which she has won two Group 1s over 6f.
"I think Damian Lane will fly from Japan to ride her in the Jubilee on the Saturday, so that’s the plan," he said.
Before any trip to Ascot Charm Stone will bid to defend her Sangster Stakes crown, the first of her Group 1 successes, with her trainer keen to have her fully tuned up before travelling.
"All the information says don’t try to get them fit over there, so we’ll go to the Sangster," Price said.
Charm Stone's latest Group 1 success came last September when she landed the Manikato Stakes at odds of 30-1, recording a career-best Racing Post Rating of 120.
Price acknowledged the scale of the challenge but is hopeful his mare can be competitive.
He said: "Joliestar’s heading there, she’s won five Group 1s, we’ve won two, but it’s a horse race. You never know what might happen."
Australian-trained runners have enjoyed notable success in the meeting’s Group 1 sprints. Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, Nature Strip and Asfoora have all won the King Charles III Stakes, while Choisir and Black Caviar struck in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stales (Saturday, June 20)
William Hill: 3-1 Joliestar, 8 Tentyris, 10 Lady Of Camelot, Lazzat, 12 Lugal, Satono Reve, 14 Powerful Glory, 20 Flora Of Bermuda, Rayevka, Kind Of Blue, Big Mojo.
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