Wesley Ward is taking a strong team to Royal Ascot next week having missed the meeting last year, and his raiders are headed by Outfielder.
Ward became the first American trainer to saddle a Royal Ascot winner in 2009. He’s since notched up a further 11 victories, latterly with Campanelle in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Ward said: “I’m so excited and we’re ready to go. Knowing how tough Ascot is getting each and every year, I’m bringing some extremely high-quality horses. When I started coming over, it was easier than it is now.”
Outfielder just missed the meeting last season due to injury, but he was a solid fourth in the Prix Morny. He arrives on the back of two wins, including beating last year’s Norfolk Stakes third Sandal’s Song by three lengths.
“I think he’s got a big chance. He won very impressively at Churchill Downs last year. It was just on the heels of Ascot. We thought about it, but he just had a minor shin issue and you don’t want any question marks.
“We erred on the side of caution and put him into the Prix Morny. That was a big ask from a maiden win.” Outfielder was two lengths behind Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny, who he’ll face once again next week.
Ward continued: “We ran him in a prep for this at Churchill Downs. He sat off the pace and just cruised by them and won very comfortably. The last couple of races he’s run in wouldn’t be of the quality he’s getting into now. But he won convincingly in both, so we’re ready to go.”
“She’s answered everything. I really like her” – Wesley Ward
Wesley Ward has sent many a smart two-year-old to the Royal meeting, and spoke highly of his juvenile string. Ruiva and Shining Moment may run in the Queen Mary Stakes, as Fanshell Beach potentially heads for the Windsor Castle.
“On the Beyer figures we have, Ruiva ran 89, which would be the highest in the United States by far. This filly is very fast. She had a really nice breeze in Newmarket and we were happy with her breeze at Keeneland on the grass. So she’s answered everything. I really like her.
“Fanshell Beach likewise won on the dirt. She’s by a freshman sire, Corniche, who won at the Breeders’ Cup. She’s out of a mare by Unusual Heat – he was an extremely good sire. She had a really nice breeze on the grass at Keeneland and repeated that in Newmarket.”
Ez Tina and Through The Years are on track for the Norfolk on Thursday, while Bacio will make his handicap debut in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes.