Overpass and Joliestar leave for England on Wednesday night to fly the Australian flag at Royal Ascot later this month.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass is set to contest the Group 1 King Charles III (formerly King's Stand) Stakes (a1000m) on June 16 and Chris Waller's Joliestar is entered for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (a1200m) four days later.

But the connections of Overpass and Joliestar haven't ruled out bringing their outstanding sprinters back to Sydney on October 17 for another bid to win the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

"Overpass is a first-up horse so he can have a break after Royal Ascot and won't need any lead-up runs before Everest Day,'' said leading syndicator Scott Darby of Darby Racing which owns Overpass.

"He will either get picked up for The Everest again or he will go to the Sydney Stakes on the same day.''

Overpass has raced on Everest Day four years in succession, including three starts in the world's richest turf race. He ran sixth to Giga Kick's Everest in 2022, 10th behind Think About It in 2023 and ran a close fourth to Ka Ying Rising last year. In 2024, Overpass won the Sydney Stakes.

Joliestar has contested successive Everests, finishing seventh to Bella Nipotina in 2024 and fifth behind Ka Ying Rising.

Waller said The Everest is definitely part of his long-term plans with Joliestar.

"We have a bit of unfinished business there with Joliestar,'' Waller said.

"She hasn't had a lot of luck and we have made genuine excuses for her in our post-race debriefs after The Everest.

"Obviously Ka Ying Rising is going to be there this year and that is a huge hurdle to overcome.

"But first things first, Royal Ascot, and then we can work out a path to get there. It is our intention to bring her back as quickly as we can.''

In early oversea reference odds for the Royal Ascot sprints, Overpass is the $3.80 favourite for the King Charles ahead of Joliestar ($5) who is a doubtful runner.

Asfoora, the Henry Dwyer-trained sprinter and winner of the King Charles two years ago, is at $11.

Joliestar is expected to be reserved for the Jubilee where she is the $2.50 favourite ahead of Japan's Satono Reve at $7 and last year's winner, France's Lazzat at $9.

Australian-trained sprinters have an outstanding record at Royal Ascot since Choisir blazed the trial with his King's Stand Stakes-Jubilee Stakes double in 2003.

Royal Ascot's 1000m feature sprint has also been won by Australian sprinters Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Nature Strip (2022) and Asfoora (2024).

The only Australian-trained winners of the Jubilee have been Choisir (2003) and the great Black Caviar (2012) although Starspangledbanner (2010) and Merchant Navy (2018) were Group 1 winners here before being sent to Ireland's Aidan O'Brien who prepared both to win Royal Ascot's 1200m sprint showpiece.

Aritcle: Ray Thomas, International Editor for Racing and Sports

Photo: Steve Hart