TO TIPSTERS of yesteryear, the distance a horse travelled to the racecourse was thought to be directly linked to the distance it would put between itself and its nearest rival.

You wouldn't send a horse from Taunton to Perth, so the thinking went, if you weren't going to try damn hard to make sure it won.

So one can only imagine what those same tipsters would make of some of the high-profile entries at Royal Ascot at York this week. Never mind travelling halfway across the country - these globetrotters have travelled halfway round the world.

The globalisation of the racing industry has continued apace in the last 12 months, with the world's leading trainers thinking nothing about sending their horses to far-flung climes in search of the biggest prizes.

The field for yesterday's King's Stand Stakes read like a 'Who's Who' of world sprinting, with French flyer Chineur holding off Hong Kong-based Cape of Good Hope, American raider Mighty Beau and the best of the British contingent.

Today's racing continues the global trend, with one of Australia's leading lights hoping to upset the odds in the Group One Prince of Wales' Stakes.

Elvstroem can boast three Group One victories and three Group Two successes in his homeland but, rather than rest on his laurels, trainer Tony Vasil opted to up sticks and try his luck in Europe and the Middle East.

The policy was rewarded when the five-year-old landed the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Nad-al-Sheba in March, and will be further franked if Elvstroem adds another group win to his CV this afternoon.

"It's been quite an adventure," said Vasil, who has used Geoff Wragg's Newmarket stables as his British base this season. "I feel very fortunate to have a horse of the calibre of Elvstroem that has taken me far and wide. It's been quite amazing.

"Years ago you would probably never have considered a campaign like this, but racing has changed and travelling now does not present the obstacles that it used to.

"The best horses need to run in the best races and, more and more, they're doing that no matter where they are in the world.

"This horse has an unbelievable constitution. He's a fantastic traveller, which has enabled him to race all over the place. It's a real credit to him that he's been able to hold his form wherever he's ran."

Elvstroem's European adventures have also enabled his jockey, Nash Rawiller, to take a sabbatical from his Australian base.

The 30-year-old, who has ridden almost 1,200 winners in his homeland, arrived in Britain as something of an unknown quantity a month ago.

But, after making his UK debut as Elvstroem finished fifth behind Rakti in the Lockinge Stakes, the amiable Aussie has immersed himself in the tapestry of British racing life.

"I've tried to get an experience of lots of different conditions and lots of different styles of racing," said Rawiller, who cites Choisir's record-breaking Royal Ascot double of 2003 as evidence of what Australian raiders can achieve.

"I rode at Wolverhampton - that was fun - and, on Bank Holiday Monday, I rode at a meeting in Jersey that took place right on the top of some cliffs. I've never had a view like that before going into the home straight.

"I've been riding out for Clive Brittain's stable and I think that's helped me adapt to British conditions much more quickly. I've had a great time since I've been over here and I feel like I'm learning about British racing all the time.

"It hasn't been easy, but I knew that was going to be the case. Coming to Europe and competing against the likes of Frankie Dettori, Kerrin McEvoy and Mick Kinane was always going to be tough."

This afternoon promises to be especially testing, with Elvstroem coming up against two of Europe's foremost exponents over a mile and two furlongs.

Former Oaks winner, Ouija Board, is vying for favouritism with last year's St James' Palace Stakes victor Azamour but, if he runs to his full potential, Vasil is confident Elvstroem can figure in the finish.

"He'll have to be right at the top of his game to be competitive in a race like this," he admitted. "But we know that and the challenge is half the fun.

"I'd say this is his toughest race in Europe, but I felt obliged to dodge Rakti after what happened in the Juddmonte and this was the best option available to us.

"The horse has always been more effective at ten furlongs - that's more his cup of tea than anything else - and I'm sure he'll give us a big run. He's never let us down yet."

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