A final field of 19 was declared for the straight track sprint Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes with the decision made to accept with Overpass after his game third to Mission Central in the King Charles III Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot.
Overpass has come through Tuesday’s race in good order and trainer Bjorn Baker has a suspicion the seven-year-old will appreciate the 1200m of Saturday’s sprint.
Joliestar, the long-time favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, has drawn barrier nine and Overpass is set to come out of gate seven.
The straight track course has been favouring those sprinters coming down the grandstand side although with warm weather forecast over the next two days, there is a suggestion the track will start to even out.
The middle draws for Joliestar (jockey James McDonald) and Overpass (Josh Parr) gives their riders the option of finding the best section of the track.
Joliestar remains the favourite with English bookmakers at 9/4 ($3.25) ahead of Japanese raider Satono Reve at 5/1 with the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest at 10/1. Overpass is out to 20/1 for Saturday’s race.
Satono Reve, a two-time Group 1 winner in his homeland, was also a very good and somewhat unlucky second to Lazzat in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last year.
Both Joliestar and Satono Reve also have form around the world’s best sprinter, Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising.
Joliestar was beaten less than two lengths when fifth to Ka Ying Rising in The Everest in Sydney last spring.
Satono Reve has twice finished second to Ka Ying Rising in the successive Hong Kong Chairman’s Sprint Prizes in 2025 and again earlier this year.
Lake Forest is no stranger to Australian racegoers after his spectacular win in the Golden Eagle two years ago.
Haggas sent Lake Forest back to Sydney last spring for The Everest but he didn’t fire, finishing last at Randwick and then seventh in the Champions Mile at Flemington behind Ceolwulf.
Lake Forest looks back to his best after a brilliant win by more than five lengths at Haydock last month.
Cieron Fallon, who won the Golden Eagle on Lake Forest, has the ride on Saturday while Tom Marquand is booked for stablemate Almeraq (25/1).
