"This was a lovely sight to behold," said Emma Berry, thethoroughbred.com.au's correspondent in England. "This", of course, is the Australian tandem of Takeover Target, with race rider Jay Ford (in red), and Scenic Blast, with trainer Dan Morton riding.

The sprinters worked over 1000 metres on the July Course at Newmarket on Friday as part of their preparation for the Group 1 July Cup at the track on July 10 - Scenic Blast will back up after winning the Group 1 King's Stand (1000m) at Royal Ascot on June 16 and Takeover Target will have his first start, after being scratched from his target race, the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot on June 20, because of an elevated temperature.

The pair ran the first 600 metres of the gallop at a steady pace, with Takeover Target (B g 9, Celtic Swing (GB)-Shady Stream, by Archregent (CAN)) ahead, and quickened over the final 400. Scenic Blast (B/br g Scenic (IRE)-Daughter's Charm, by Delgado (USA)) joined the veteran and they went to the post together. The pair has never raced against each other. Takeover Target won his two races in Perth (the G2 Winterbottom Stakes, 1200m, and the G3 Scahill Stakes, 1400m) late last year, while Scenic Blast was getting ready to race in Melbourne, where he won the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) in January and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March.

Corporate bookmakers have Scenic Blast as the 2-1 favourite for the July Cup. Morton told the Racing Post: "He's good fresh, which is why we didn't go for the Golden Jubilee, and he's pulled out good today. We just went nicely and he picked up really well in the closing stages.

"You can feel the undulations on the course and he was possibly not totally comfortable on them, but the last two furlongs he was fine. We have still got two weeks to the race and if Michael (Prosser, Newmarket's clerk of the course) let's us we could come back and give him some further experience of the course."

Takeover Target's owner-trainer Joe Janiak was encouraged by his horse's gallop. "Hopefully he's on his way back. He did everything he had to and it was a good, solid workout," he said.

"He had a temperature before Ascot and unfortunately these things happen, but he looks (to be) back on track. Maybe we will come up again next week."

Bookmakers are offering 14-1 about Takeover Target in the July Cup.