A field of 19 horses has been confirmed for the straight-track sprint, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. The decision to accept with Overpass was made following his commendable third-place finish behind Mission Central in the King Charles III Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
Trainer Bjorn Baker reported that Overpass has recovered well from his Tuesday effort, and he suspects the seven-year-old gelding will perform even better over the 1200-metre distance of Saturday’s race.
Joliestar, who has been the long-standing favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, secured barrier nine, while Overpass drew gate seven.
The straight course at Ascot has tended to favour sprinters running down the grandstand side, but with warm weather predicted for the next couple of days, there’s an expectation the track conditions will become more even.
The middle draws for Joliestar, to be ridden by James McDonald, and Overpass, with Josh Parr in the saddle, provide their jockeys with tactical flexibility to seek out the most advantageous part of the track.
English bookmakers still list Joliestar as the favourite at 9/4 ($3.25). Japanese contender Satono Reve is priced at 5/1, and the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest is at 10/1. Overpass is currently a 20/1 outsider for Saturday’s event.
Satono Reve, a dual Group 1 victor in his native Japan, was a strong and somewhat unlucky runner-up to Lazzat in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Both Joliestar and Satono Reve have demonstrated their quality against the world’s premier sprinter, the Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising.
Joliestar finished less than two lengths behind Ka Ying Rising when placing fifth in The Everest in Sydney last spring.
Satono Reve has twice finished second to Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Chairman’s Sprint Prize, first in 2025 and again earlier this year.
Australian racegoers will remember Lake Forest for his impressive victory in the Golden Eagle two years ago.
Haggas sent Lake Forest back to Sydney last spring for The Everest, but the horse did not perform to expectations, finishing last at Randwick and subsequently seventh in the Champions Mile at Flemington behind Ceolwulf.
Lake Forest appears to have rediscovered his top form after a dominant win by over five lengths at Haydock last month.
Cieron Fallon, who partnered Lake Forest to his Golden Eagle triumph, is booked for the ride on Saturday, while Tom Marquand will steer stablemate Almeraq, a 25/1 chance.
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