FAYR JAG and Somnus can strike a blow for North Yorkshire when they tackle some of the world's best horses chasing global glory on the final day of the Royal Ascot at York meeting.

Both are trained by Tim Easterby at Great Habton, near Malton and Fayr Jag won Royal Ascot's top sprint, the Golden Jubilee Stakes, last year when jockey Willie Supple just held off Crystal Castle.

A week tomorrow he and Somnus will make the short journey down the A64, to Knavesmire to defend his title, with some of the opposition coming halfway round the world to take them on.

The Golden Jubilee Stakes is the second of the two races at Royal Ascot at York which form part of the Global Sprint Challenge.

This six-race series comprises two races in Australia, the King's Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes at York next week, and two races in Japan later in the year.

Points are allocated 10-5-4-3-2 first to fifth, with all other starts awarded one point.

Cape Of Good Hope will try to extend his lead in the Global Sprint Challenge and attempt an ambitious double.

The seven-year-old won the series, the Group One Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, and was third in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February and now leads this year's series by 28 points.

The Hong Kong raider will now take in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes and Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes - races in which he finished second and third respectively last year.

Owner Guy Carstairs, whose sprinter has amassed more than £2million in prize money, explained his reasons for travelling the world with Cape Of Good Hope.

He said: "We were sick of seeing the back-end of Silent Witness and were realistic in thinking that we could never beat him. That was one of the main reasons for coming over here.

"He will go for both races again and is in great form. He came over earlier this year and has had eight weeks since his last race. I think he is a better horse this year. He has muscled up and I think he will run well."

Fayr Jag and Somnus' other rivals could include Mighty Beau (USA), Soaring Free (Canada) and a clutch of possible runners from Aidan O'Brien's stable, including Ad Valorem and Airwave, who chased home Choisir in the Golden Jubilee Stakes two years ago.

Updated: 11:51 Friday, June 10, 2005