Watering has resumed at Ascot ahead of next week’s Royal meeting with little rain forecast over the next few days.
Australian Group One winner Shamexpress will run in the King’s Stand on the first day of the five-day meeting.
Clerk of the course Chris Stickels turned on the taps on Friday and will do so again on Wednesday as he endeavours to get as near to good ground as possible for the start of the five-day meeting.
“We had a drying week last week and a drying weekend so we put a spot of water on the course on Friday and we’re back watering again today,” Stickels told At The Races.
“We’ll probably water again on Wednesday and we will review the forecast as time goes on.
“At the moment we are a mixture of good and good to firm. That is the sort of ground we need to start Royal Ascot on given a dry week.
“We will monitor the situation to see what the forecast is for next week which is not entirely clear yet. We need to water to get it to a manageable type of ground.”
Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom will have his finale in the first race of the carnival on June 18, the Queen Anne Stakes, after which he will travel to Australia to stand at Arrowfield Stud.
Sea Siren will represent Australia on the final day, June 22, in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes won last year by Black Caviar.
