By Cornelius Lysaght BBC racing correspondent

Their regular dominance in international cricket, rugby union and league and in the swimming pool is taken for granted.

Miss Andretti is well-fancied for the Royal meeting

But while the Australians still have work to do on the football field, perhaps horse racing is next for their habitual supremacy. In sprint races, anyway.

It certainly looks that way judging by a four-pronged assault from down under on two of the very biggest prizes at Royal Ascot this year.

Bentley Biscuit, Magnus, Miss Andretti and Takeover Target, the cream of their country's speedsters, are due to take part in both the Kings Stand Stakes (five furlongs) and the Golden Jubilee Stakes (6f).

Those races make up two legs of the increasingly popular Global Sprint Challenge, and were both won by Aussie-trained Choisir in 2003, while Takeover Target was first and third respectively last year.

As a result, British bookmakers, traditionally sceptical about overseas runners, are taking no chances, making the impressive Miss Andretti favourite for both, with the others not too far behind.

When Choisir pulled off a memorable double in the races in 2003, it was something of a novelty, but not anymore.

Takeover Target has been here, done it, is very hard to see off and is a very brave hors Miss Andretti's trainer Lee Friedman

Jockey Nash Rawiller, who will be on board the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bentley Biscuit, explained: "Coming to Ascot is now seen as one of the most prestigious things for trainers to do with very good horses following the successes of Choisir and Takeover Target.

"I guess the world's getting smaller as far as travelling arrangements and that sort of thing is concerned, so it is something that's very viable now.

"And, of course, coming to England is special, whatever the sport, because of that historic rivalry, and racing is no different."

It is said that there is not a lot between the quartet at home.

Lee Freedman, trainer of Miss Andretti, said: "Takeover Target is the one I worry about because I just don't know how she will measure up against him.

"He has been here, done it, is very hard to see off and is a very brave horse.

"The Australians are getting all the attention but that is not always what you want. It is not going to be a four-horse race with 20 runners in it. We have to keep our guard up."

But that sounds like a diplomatic remark to me: the European sprinters, while worthy rivals for anybody, are perhaps not a vintage bunch.

Whatever happens to their sprinters, though, the visitors will probably have plenty to crow about thanks to in-form British-based Aussie jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Hugh Bowman.