Aidan O'Brien goes in search of US hat-trick with trio of stars this weekend

Aidan O'Brien reports Empress Josephine, Japan and Order Of Australia to have all taken the journey to America in their stride ahead of their engagements at Belmont and Keeneland this weekend, where the trio will contest Breeders' Cup qualifiers.

Japan will be in action at Belmont in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, while Order Of Australia runs in the Turf Mile at Keeneland, the same course and distance over which he landed last year's Breeders' Cup Mile. The Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Empress Josephine also runs at Keeneland in the First Lady Stakes, with both top-level contests too.

O'Brien said: "They have travelled over to America well and taken everything in their stride. The plan is for Japan to run in the mile-and-a-half race at Belmont. He ran a very good race at Saratoga and looked a little bit unlucky. He has been in very good form since then.