Australia's last Royal Ascot runner, Sea Siren, will have some Aussie company...
Australia’s last Royal Ascot runner, Sea Siren, will have some Aussie company when she lines-up in Saturday night’s Group 1 Diamond Jubilee (1200m).
Former top-line Darley-owned sprinter Soul, fourth in the race last year behind our own great Black Caviar, will again contest the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Soul hasn’t raced since last October when he ran second in a Group 3 race at Ascot over 1200-metres.
Sea Siren has thrilled trainer John O’Shea since he arrived in the UK last weekend.
“She looks great, her weight is perfect, she’s bright and fit and pretty much ready to go,” O’Shea told Racing Network this morning.
Sea Siren has drawn barrier 13 of 16 runners and that hasn’t perturbed O’Shea at all.
“That’s Ryan Moore’s issue now, but no-one here seems to think it's a problem,” O’Shea said.
Local bookmakers have Sea Siren marked a 7-1 chance behind local star Society Rock (10-3) and last year’s Golden Shaheen winner in Dubai, Krypton Factor, who is a 5-1 chance.
Sea Siren will race in Michael Tabor’s orange and blue Coolmore colours on Saturday night, and she will transfer to Aiden O’Brien’s care after this race.
“I’d be really thrilled if she ran in the money, and if she happened to win, well, we’d make that count and have a big one,” O’Shea said, laughing.
Watch The Diamond Jubilee Stakes Live on TVN Channel 522 on Foxtel/Austar at 12.45am.