TROY CORSTENS will be able to tick off an item on his bucket-list when The Astrologist contests the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York on Wednesday 17 May.

In tackling what is now a Group 2 race worth £145,000, the six-year-old gelding will become the first UK-runner for ‘Team Corstens’ – co-trainers Troy and his father Leon, who are based at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

The Astrologist is racing in the northern hemisphere this summer, having finished a close runner-up in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan.

Along with Corstens’ assistant trainer, Dominic Sutton, he has spent the last month in Newmarket at the stables of Marco Botti.

Now connections are ready to launch the Aussie sprinter’s European campaign in the six-furlong stakes race on the Knavesmire. It comes ahead of a tilt at the newly named, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot (previously the Platinum Jubilee). The Astrologist, owned by Bennett Racing, is then likely to take his place in either the July Cup at Newmarket or the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in France.

Troy Corstens said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing him run first up at York. I think he’ll run a super race if we get the track conditions to suit. It’s always been on my bucket list to have a runner over there and I’m very excited.

“Originally the UK trip was sort of pie-in-the-sky stuff and we booked in to go to Dubai for World Cup night. And he ran so well at World Cup night, Nick Smith (director of racing at Ascot) was speaking to us and just said, ‘Would you be interested in coming over?’

“We talked about it and after he ran so well, we thought let’s hit the ‘go’ button and head over. He’s a very good traveller – he travelled a little bit in Australia and really adapted well. He’s just settled in perfectly over in Newmarket.”

Last Friday, connections stepped up their York preparations with a racecourse spin at Newmarket. Jockey Ryan Moore, whom connections are hoping will be available for the race, rode The Astrologist in a piece of exercise with a horse from Botti’s string.

Corstens said: “We specifically wanted to do something a little bit different with him – he had a gallop on the Rowley Mile and he worked particularly well there. We were very pleased with him and it was just what he needed.”

Corstens is planning on flying in a week ahead of Royal Ascot but next Wednesday will be closely monitoring The Astrologist’s first start on English soil.

He said: “We were very keen to get a run into him before the Platinum Jubilee and the race at York is just an absolute perfect one for him. He loves the straight track here at Flemington. As much as I haven’t seen York, I’m told that it’s a beautiful track and the 1200 (metre) straight race should really suit him. He doesn’t thrive on heavy ground – he doesn’t mind it soft."

The Astrologist was one of 34 horses to remain in the race at today’s latest forfeit stage. Among the runners still in the entry are proven Group 1 star and defending champion, Highfield Princess from the John Quinn operation as well as both Oxted and Emaraaty Ana as previous Group 1 winners.

The Dante Festival at York Racecourse runs from Wednesday 17 May to Friday 19 May inclusive. Wednesday’s card opens with the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap at 1.50pm.