Takeover Target can complete what for many has been the feel-good story of Royal Ascot 2006 by adding today's Golden Jubilee Stakes to his memorable triumph in Tuesday's Kings Stand Stakes.
The Aus $500 horse, trained by the Canberra-based taxi driver Joe Janiak, captured the imagination earlier in the week with a short head success and is likely to start favourite to add this Group One prize to his tally.
Choisir completed the double for Australia three years ago and in his no-nonsense way Janiak was yesterday far from ruling out a repeat by this latest star Aussie sprinter to conquer the Royal meeting.
"He has come out of the last race all right and he has been in good shape," he said. "The barrier draw has been a little better this time too." Takeover Target overcame a wide draw on Tuesday, something that most of the others running up the straight course haven't been able to do all week. This time he is in box 13 of 19 which is hardly brilliant but a repeat of Jay Ford's jockeyship in getting Takeover Target across quickly will negate that.
In contrast the Irish hope Noelani, from John Oxx's yard, has a good draw in six but she along with the home team seem to be playing catch up against the Australians who also pitch in Glamour Puss.
"This is the race we have brought Glamour Puss for. The distance of the Kings Stand was a bit short," said her trainer Danny O'Brien.
It could turn out to be an all-Antipodean finish and if guts are what count then the fairytale runner from Canberra again looks the one to be on.
The only other Irish runner today is the David Wachman-trained Country Song in the seven-furlong Chesham Stakes. This colt is unbeaten in two starts at Tipperary and showed a good attitude to win last time. However, the Irish juveniles haven't cut much ice all week and with that in mind maybe a better option could be Always Fruitful. Mark Johnston did have a very quiet time of it recently but things have improved in the last couple of days. He does have a good record in the race and the extra furlong and the stiff track should suit Always Fruitful who was third in the Woodcote at Epsom.
The Godolphin team have been showing a return to form this week but last year's Irish Oaks winner Shawanda could be another that will come on significantly from a run in the Hardwicke Stakes. Collier Hill, winner of the Irish St Leger, has to concede weight all round and on the prevailing fast ground the best option of all looks like being Maraahel who gets all the allowances here.
Michael Kinane and Jonjo O'Neill team up for the ex-Ballydoyle horse Avalon in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest race of the year in Britain. This is hardly what was envisaged for Avalon when he was a record-priced yearling and he also comes here on the back of a less than brilliant campaign over hurdles. However, at his best he would be a threat to all of these and it wasn't a bad run at all last time behind Distinction.
The Jamie Spencer-James Fanshawe team will be fancied to land another big handicap with Firenze in the Wokingham, but a value alternative may be Beaver Patrol.
Brian O'Connor's tip: 2.30: Always Fruitful; 3.05: Maraahel; 3.45: Takeover Target; 4.25: Beaver Patrol; 4.55: Thunder Rock; 5.30: Avalon.
