Shamexpress on target for Royal Ascot

Friday 31 May 2013, 1:22pm

The Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress sealed a faultless build-up to Royal Ascot with a jump-out win at Flemington on Friday.

The three-year-old, who will contest the King's Stand Stakes (1000m) on June 18, finished stylishly to win his gallop ahead of the Stradbroke Handicap candidate Linton.

"The horse has got to be really race-fit when he gets on the plane and that will just bring him right to the mark," trainer Danny O'Brien said.

"We missed the autumn in Sydney and Brisbane with the idea of having him 110 per cent in England and everything has gone to plan so far."

Australian sprinters have dominated Royal Ascot since the Paul Perry-trained Choisir won the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee double in 2003.

Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, Starspangledbanner and Black Caviar have all followed in Choisir's hoofprints as Royal Ascot winners.

"It's actually 10 years this year since Paul Perry sort of opened the batting with Choisir, so it would be very fitting if an Australian can go back there and win again," O'Brien said.

O'Brien has had experience travelling horses to Royal Ascot with Star Witness placing in the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee (now Diamond Jubilee) in 2011.

Newitt, who won at Royal Ascot on Miss Andretti, says he's on the right horse again.

"His trial this morning was probably equally as impressive as the one before the Newmarket, so I think it all comes down to how he travels and settles in over there," Newitt said.

The John O'Shea-trained Sea Siren is also heading to Royal Ascot to run in the Diamond Jubilee and she will be on the same flight to England.

They fly out on Wednesday.

– AAP

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