Joliestar has led home Overpass in a jump-out at Flemington ahead of their departure to Royal Ascot.
Australia's representatives for Royal Ascot have completed their work on home soil with a jump-out at Flemington.
Joliestar led home Overpass in the 900m jump-out on Friday morning with the pair set to depart for the UK on Wednesday evening.
Overpass runs on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (a1000m) on June 16 and will be joined by the Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora, while Joliestar runs on the final day, June 20, in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (a1200m).
Chris Waller was at Flemington on Friday morning to watch Joliestar go through her paces under James McDonald and liked what he saw.
"She looked to do everything comfortably," Waller said.
"We've done little pieces of work, similar to this mornings, and each and every one of them has been exactly what we wanted to see.
"She's got a big trip ahead. It is Wednesday evening they depart. She's done the work, she's in terrific form and it's all about recovery after the big journey."
Waller, who won the King Charles III with Nature Strip in 2022, said it was a different assignment this year travelling a mare.
But he said Joliestar was now a mature galloper who could handle the rigours of the gruelling trip.
Waller said Royal Ascot came into his thinking after Joliestar won the 2025 Newmarket Handicap over straight 1200m course at Flemington.
"As soon as you see a horse win down the straight at Flemington, it's always in the back of your mind," Waller said.
"And a horse like Joliestar, she's owned by Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, and they're all about the brand.
"It's a great advertisement to them and to their stud and the history that Cambridge Stud has, so we floated the idea early on.
"It's not about the prize money, it's about the mare and her name.
"If she could win at Royal Ascot, she is going to be seen as a champion sprinter in both hemispheres."
Waller, who has been back to Royal Ascot every year since Nature Strip's win in 2022, said he wished Joliestar's race was on the opening day rather than having to wait and close out the meeting.
He said Joliestar could be taken to Ascot for a look at the track.
"I wish the race was on the Tuesday, to get it out of the way," Waller said.
"We'll probably find a piece of work to do between now and then and if it was at Ascot, that would be great."
Luke Hilton, racing manager for Overpass' trainer Bjorn Baker, was at Flemington to watch the sprinter trial under Josh Parr.
Hilton said it was the right amount of work the pair wanted to see from the sprinter before his departure on Wednesday evening.
"We weren't out to break any records with him," Hilton said.
"He went steady through the first part of the jump-out and then quickened up nicely.
"Josh was rapt with him and the horse has never looked as good as he looks at the moment.
"We'll keep him in a good frame of mind, and he won't have too much to do once he gets over there.
"I think we've got a course proper gallop on the Royal course on the Friday before.
"We'll go there, give him a look around, and give him a nice hit-out there and then we'll be right to go."
Both horses will be stabled with Charlie Hills at Lambourn upon arrival in the UK.
"We've got a bit of a connection with the Lambourn area," Hilton said.
"A few of the trainers that Bjorn and I know train out of Lambourn and it's a little bit closer to Ascot for the travel on race day.
"As it turns out, we're able to stay with Charlie as well and it makes it a lot easier being able to stay with Joliestar, as they can help each other out as well."
