JOCKEY Michael Rodd flew out to England yesterday morning thrilled at the prospect of snaring two group 1 winners some 80 hours, two hemispheres and about 17,000 kilometres apart, reports The Age.It says: On Saturday in Brisbane, Rodd rode filly Dariana to a remarkable 4¢-length win in the Queensland Derby and said the victory filled him with confidence for Tuesday night's ride (Melbourne time) on Gold Trail in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.''I can't wait to see it,'' the 28-year-old sa

JOCKEY Michael Rodd flew out to England yesterday morning thrilled at the prospect of snaring two group 1 winners some 80 hours, two hemispheres and about 17,000 kilometres apart, reports The Age.

It says: On Saturday in Brisbane, Rodd rode filly Dariana to a remarkable 4¢-length win in the Queensland Derby and said the victory filled him with confidence for Tuesday night's ride (Melbourne time) on Gold Trail in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

''I can't wait to see it,'' the 28-year-old said of the famous course. ''I have seen it on TV but that never does anything justice.

''It's obvious that Melbourne Cups are a career highlight but it's a feather in my hat to be going over there and riding at a meeting that has so much history.

''I'll go over there with a bit of confidence after Dariana and it would be great to win another group 1 on the other side of the world in a couple of days.''

Rodd, who at 28, has already won a Melbourne Cup (Efficient) and a Cox Plate (Maldivian), rode five group 1 winners in Australasia this season, including wins on Dariana's filly stablemate Faint Perfume in the VRC Oaks and Vinery Stakes.

With five months remaining, the rising four-year-old mares are among the favourites for the $6 million Melbourne Cup, which would give their trainer Bart Cummings a 13th win in the race.

Gold Trail is one of a trio of Australian runners at Ascot, along with favourite Nicconi and Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate winner Starspangledbanner, which is now trained by Irish master Aidan O'Brien.

Rodd, who won the group 1 Railway Stakes with Gold Trail in New Zealand on New Year's Day, said the horse's most recent run, when fourth in the Krisflyer Stakes in Singapore, showed he was still improving.

''He keeps improving and what he did in Singapore was his best run so far,'' Rodd said. ''If he can take that form over to Royal Ascot at 1000 metres, which is his distance at that level, I think we are going to give it a real shake and be there for a long time.''