Wesley Ward finds valid excuse for Lady Aurelia’s defeat
Lady Aurelia will spend three months recuperating at her owner's farm back in America but Ward reveals plans to bring her back for next year's Royal Ascot
LADY Aurelia was found to have bled when she was scoped following her defeat in the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
American trainer Wesley Ward was relieved to have discovered a reason for his flying filly tiring in the final 50 yards and losing out in the Group One over six furlongs.
The 4-6 shot folded in the hands of Frankie Dettori and ended up taking minor honours behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Brave Anna and Roly Poly.
Lady Aurelia, winner of the Prix Morny at Deauville last month, will now return to the United States and spend three months recuperating at her owner's farm.
She will then go back to Ward's stables to be trained for a three-year-old campaign with the aim of going for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, where she won the Queen Mary Stakes in blistering style in June.
Ward said: "It was a head-scratcher and disappointing, but when we got back to the barn the vet scoped her and she ended up having bled with a score of three out of five, which, in a Group One, is enough to get you beat, probably.
"It's not good that she bled, but at least it's a bit of an answer as to the reason why she didn't kick on that last little bit of the race.
"She's going to her owner's Stonestreet Farm for about 90 days.
"We'll pick her up in the first part of the year, get her going and hopefully we'll be able to get her back for Ascot for next year."
