Foreign superstars ready for Royal Ascot raid

Ascot are keeping their fingers crossed that Hong Kong Sprint winner Inspiration will be among a sensational line-up of international runners at the Royal meeting in June.

The five-year-old has been a revelation in the Far-East this season and followed up his victory in the Hong Kong Sprint with another Group 1 success in the Centenary Sprint for trainer John Moore.

Now officials at the Berkshire track are hopeful that the gelding will join Hungarian superstar Overdose, South African dual Group 1 winner J J The Jet Plane, French Prix de l'Abbaye hero Marchand D'Or and Aussie sprinters Scenic Blast and Takeover Target for the two top sprints at the meeting, the five-furlong King's Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs.

Overdose, who finished first in the voided Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October — which was re-run and won by Marchand D'Or — took his unbeaten record to 12 in Budapest on Sunday and will have a prep run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock on 23 May before taking on Marchand D'Or in the King's Stand.

Nick Smith, Ascot's PR director, said: "Last year we had the first winner for Spain in Equiano. Maybe we will have a first for Hungry. It's quite exciting and the clash with Marchand D'Or is huge.

"This will be the first time they meet, so effectively we will have a showdown to see who the top sprinter in Europe really is. We are also hopeful that Inspiration may be given the green light."