By Tim Carroll Tuesday, June 16 King Charles III Stakes Overpass The Bjorn Baker seven-year-old is a twice Group 1 winner that has won ten of his 36 starts, has been a grand servant and whilst he might not have as sexy a profile as some of the Australian sprinters to visit these shores, he’s a hard knocking gelding that rarely runs a poor race.  He hasn’t been seen in the winner’s circle since November 2024, but connections have given him just the seven runs since then and his form during that time includes finishing a close fourth in the T J Smith, a race that has thrown up Royal Ascot winners Takeover Target, Nature Strip plus Black Caviar, and he was just over a length fourth in behind the mighty Ka Ying Rising in last year's Everest at Royal Randwick.  Whilst his best form is over six-furlongs with eight of his career wins in and around that trip, a stiff five-furlongs should be perfect. He goes into the race off a 73-day layoff, but four of his wins having been recorded after a break of 64 days +, thus, it’s likely that this was very much part of the plan. Whilst some may argue he’s an older horse without any upside, he goes into the contest rated 118, higher than several recent winners. Both Takeover Target and Nature Strip were seven-year-olds when they won the race, and this doesn’t look the strongest of renewals.   Asfoora  A bonnie seven-year-old mare that won this race in 2024 and whilst a tad disappointing last year when fifth, she then went on to be crowned Europe’s champion sprinter on the back of wins in the Nunthorpe and L’Abbaye.  However, she does arrive with a big question mark having disappointed in both runs this season, finishing in front of just four rivals in the Palace Stakes at Newmarket before a dismal effort when eleven-lengths last in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, although she didn’t seem to be enjoying the ground conditions in the latter.  On those two efforts it would be difficult to see her competitive here, but it’s worth remembering that if she’s not happy, she can "down tools quickly" as her trainer describes it, and they nearly retired her last year after a couple of poor runs. Whilst the first two starts of the season are a genuine concern, the blinkers go back on for the first time since her win in the L’Abbaye, and given her profile, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if she were to ‘pick up her tools’ and get back to work.  Jawwal Trained by Czech Republic handler Vaclav Luka Jr., who has won several championship titles, the now four-year-old Jawwal ran a career best when runner-up to Asfoora in last year’s L’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc weekend as a then three-year-old. He was unwanted in the betting that day but went down fighting to finish just half-a-length behind the Australian mare having contested the lead from the off. Everyone loves a good underdog story, and I don’t want to rain on the parade, but it wasn’t the strongest renewal of the L’Abbaye, and it was dominated by the pace runners. It’s also worth mentioning he has been well held in two subsequent runs in France this year. Whilst he has won over six-furlongs in Prague, he has plenty of pace, and he didn’t look like a horse wanting a stiff five-furlongs when picking up the silver in the L’Abbaye. Wednesday June 17 Queen Mary Stakes  Ruiva  Wesley Ward needs no introduction. The American has sent out twelve winners at the Royal Meeting from 89-runners - a strike rate of better than 13% - which is an incredible achievement when you consider the logistics involved. At the time of writing, the trainer has suggested he could have three runners in the Queen Mary this year, a race that he has won four times. The brilliant Campanelle was his most recent victor in 2020, who then came back and landed the Commonwealth Cup the following year. Ruiva looked superb when dotting up over four-and-a-half furlongs on debut, going on to win by seven-lengths on a sloppy dirt track at Churchill Downs, and the form has a bit of shape with the runner-up winning next time out.  Ward hasn’t had the best time at Royal Ascot in the last few years with Campanelle his only successful runner since 2018, and he bypassed the meeting entirely last year for the first time since 2012. It also goes without saying that five-furlongs on the uphill turf at Royal Ascot is a very different challenge to a flat dirt track. However, this filly ran a strong speed figure on debut, she has plenty of pace even by American standards, and she’s by Munnings, a sire that has produced several top-class turf performers including Kimari, who was runner-up in this race and the Commonwealth Cup the following year. Shining Moment Owned by Qatar Racing, the daughter of twice Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner and Norfolk runner-up, Golden Pal, made her introduction when beaten into second as a 2-5 favourite at Keeneland in April. Although well held by the winner that day, who has yet to been seen since, she was a long way in front of the others and chances are she ran into one that’s well above average. She made amends next time out, winning a five-furlong turf maiden at Churchill Downs when she went from the front, going on to score by a margin despite being harassed all the way. It’s difficult to get a handle on the form as, at the time of writing, those in behind have yet to be seen.  However, she took a decent step forward from her debut, which marries in with her improved speed figure. She was strong through the line and is proven on turf, all things you like to see from an American juvenile heading to the Royal Meeting.  Through the Years This Coolmore-owned daughter of No Nay Ever ran with merit as runner-up over five-and-a-half-furlongs on debut at Keenland in April when she was chinned right on the line. She went quick enough on the front that day, looked all over the winner and seemed to be stargazing when clear over the final furlong. She was then seen winning at Belmont At The Big A (Aqueduct) last month when sent off a 1-7 favourite, a race she was entitled to win, but not only did she achieve that, she broke the track record in the process. Although conditions on the day certainly played their part, she won by a margin with a bit in hand. On speed figures, she still has a little bit to find with her two stable companions, Shining Moment and Ruiva, but like both of those, she has plenty of natural speed which is beneficial for a race of this nature. Given her Irish pedigree, she’d be the pick of Wesley Ward's three on that front, if they all line up.  Royal Hunt Cup Rock of Chasel A former Aidan O’Brien inmate who was a twice winner for the champion trainer - a maiden at Galway in 2024 and a small field contest at Navan in July of last year, which saw his official rating peak of 100.  He has since joined Norway’s multiple champion trainer, Neils Petersen, but the well-bred son of Wootton Basset was beaten panels in three starts at Meydan earlier this year.  However, he has since been gelded and arrives after winning a 1m½f handicap at Ovrevoll (Norway) last month when picking up in good style. It could just be that the gelding op will see some further improvement and he does get in light off his current mark of 85, but he dives into much deeper waters.  War Socks The second of two entries for Norway handler Neils Petersen, that might not be the worse outsider on recent form which includes picking up the bronze in two decent handicaps at Meydan earlier this year. The latest includes when in behind a rival - Dividend - that was then runner-up in a Group 2 before finishing less than four-lengths behind Ombudsman in the Dubai Turf.  The now four-year-old is no stranger to the Royal Meeting, having run with merit in defeat in the Golden Gates Stakes Handicap over ten-furlongs last year when he led before puncturing late, finishing better than midfield in sixth spot. But with some of his best form is over the mile, this looks a more suitable target and although it was a race he was very much entitled to win, he has been tuned up for this by dotting up in a one-mile handicap at Bro Park (Sweden) last month. Windsor Castle Stakes Fanshell Beach With this year’s race being extended from five-furlongs to six-furlongs along with conditions around sires (must have won at 7f+ as a two-year-old or 1m+ as a three-year-old) to incentivize middle-distance bloodlines, it may come as a surprise to hear Wesley Ward targeting the race for that very reason; however, he does believe this filly will be better suited over this trip.  She’s by freshman sire Corniche (early favourite for the 2022 Kentucky Derby), but he missed the race so we don’t know too much on that side, and she is out of a Black Type winning mare. She made her debut in April, hacking up in a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden despite a slow break and being hustled along early to sit outside the leader. Whilst she goes from dirt to turf and takes a decent step up in trip, she wasn’t stopping on debut despite running the first quarter in a nippy 22.29, and her Equibase speed figure of 90 is higher than several American two-year-old's that have been successful at the Royal Meeting.   Friday, June 19 Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes Bacio Represents the Wesley Ward yard and arrives here having won three of four and although it would be a stretch to say he was a luckless loser, his one defeat was the only time he didn't lead when a tad tardy out of the gates.  He was last seen in April, running a career best at Churchill Downs on his first run of the year, making all over five-furlongs and although the next two home have since let the form down, he won eased down by a margin having left his rivals standing still when his rider asked for an effort. This is run under handicap conditions for three-year-old's and, at the time of writing, the weights haven’t been released - I won’t try and second-guess the handicapper, but in the six editions of this race at Royal Ascot, five winners have been rated between 87-97. It’s always difficult to know if these American horses will act on a straight course and get up the hill, but he’s a speedy type and pace runners have a good record in the race, having been successful five of the six running’s.     Saturday, June 20 Norfolk Stakes Ez Tina Another filly from the Wesley Ward yard, the daughter of Golden Pal, who fetched $600,000 at the Keenland September sales, was taken to Woodbine in Canada last month for her debut, winning a five-furlong maiden. Whilst she’ll be diving into far deeper waters at Royal Ascot, like most of the Wesley Ward juveniles, she looks one right out of the box. She flew the gates like an old pro on debut, went straight to the front and won by a margin with the rider barely moving, running a high-speed figure in the process. Although Ward has sent plenty of good horses to Canada including Campanelle and Hootenanny, both of those were after their Royal Ascot exploits and none of his twelve winners at the Royal Meeting have ever run outside of America before crossing the Atlantic. However, Woodbine doesn’t have a dirt track, just turf and all-weather, and this filly excelled on the all-weather. That along  with her pedigree augers well for her switch to the turf.   Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Satono Reve Japan’s best sprinter was runner-up in this last year, beaten a nostril by Lazzat, who was flying at the time, in a stirring finish with the first two well clear of the others. The twice G1 winner has been audaciously campaigned, travelling to Hong Kong four times to take on one of the all-time great sprinters, Ka Ying Rising, and whilst no match for the Hong Kong superstar, he has placed three times behind the world’s top-ranked racehorse. That includes when runner-up on his most recent start in Aprils Chairman’s Sprint. As good as this race is, he has no 137-rated (Timeform's highest-rated sprinter this century) megastar to contend with here, and from what we saw last year, he was more than a match for the locals. He takes on a new foe in the form of the favourite, Joliestar, who has been terrific in Australia, but she’ll be having her first start away from home whereas this fellow is a seasoned traveler that rarely doesn’t run to form no matter the location. Lugal The now six-year-old has been in good touch recently and whilst he isn’t as highly regarded as his fellow countryman, Satono Reve, he did have that rival in behind when winning Japan’s premier sprint, The Sprinter Stakes in 2024. Although, that has been the only time he has finished in front of last year’s runner-up from several meetings. However, connections will be buoyed by recent efforts: third a Grade 3 in Japan on his seasonal return, before runner-up in the Al Quoz at Meydan on his most recent start, finishing one spot in front of last year’s winner of this, Lazzat. He showed that day when having his first spin on a straight course that he had no issues on that front and whilst this will be the first time he has run on a track that has an uphill drag, he’s a twice winner over seven-furlongs. Most recently in December, taking out sixteen-runner Grade 2 at Hanshin when he took up his preferred position of tracking the leaders, suggesting he should enjoy a testing six-furlongs.  Joliestar We all know that the Australian sprinters have a very good record at The Royal Meeting. As a five-time Group 1 winner arriving here having won her last three, including one of Australia’s premier sprints the T J Smith on her most recent start - a traditionally strong form line for Royal Ascot - Joliestar looks a worthy favourite for this year’s renewal. She’s always shaped as a very good horse in the making, winning the 1000 Guineas as a three-year-old. However, she has come into her own recently with her trainer - Chris Waller - who has had a winner (Nature Strip) and a close second from just three runners at the Royal Meeting, stating that she is now at the peak of her powers as a five-year-old mare.  She will be having her first run in 77 days, but she’s a first up gun, with five of her ten career wins recorded after a layoff, four of those after a break of 64+ days. She has form on a straight course having won the Newmarket (another race with strong form line for this) at Flemington last year. Although the travel and the testing nature of the Ascot straight is always a consideration for the visitors, whilst it’s not the same as venturing across the globe, she has won in three States in Australia and as a Group 1 winner over a mile as a three-year-old, she’s well equipped to deal with the uphill drag at Ascot. Great Wish Trained in Denmark by the highly respected championship winning trainer, Bent Olsen, who has had success internationally including in the UAE, it would be a magical story if this son of Night Of Thunder was able to take out one of the worlds greats sprints. However, although we have had an 80-1 and a 33-1 winner of the race in recent years, it’s highly unlikely this fellow with a rating of 109 (in what looks a decent renewal) would be good enough. In fairness, he did have some handy types in behind when taking out a Listed contest at Meydan in January before two unplaced efforts, including when slightly worse than midfield in the Al Quoz at his most recent start. Although a five-year-old, he is a low mileage type and he did run a career best in January, so there may be a bit more to come, but he would need to improve plenty to be in the fight at this level.