Royal Ascot 2017 – Wesley Ward set for more Royal success with his strong team headlined by Lady Aurelia
Ward could start the meeting off with a bang as he saddles King's Stand Stakes hope Lady Aurelia along with Arawak in the Coventry and Elizabeth Darcy and Nootka Sound in the Windsor Castle
WESLEY WARD says he is bringing what he believes to be his strongest-ever team to the Royal Ascot party.
It is eight years since the American trainer banged in 33-1 Strike The Tiger in the Windsor Castle to announce his arrival at Flat racing’s premier event.
The following day Jealous Again became the first of Ward’s three Queen Mary winners.
He has been coming back ever since.
Washington-born Ward said: “When I came here eight years ago I saw the pageantry and I was overwhelmed – star struck.
“I had heard about it but didn’t know what I was getting in to. Now Royal Ascot is what I live for.”
Ward, who has yards in Florida and Kentucky, said: “If anyone asks me my favourite racecourse anywhere in the world I always say Ascot. It’s just a beautiful. There is nothing like it.
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“Royal Ascot has national television coverage back home now so, soon, all the trainers will want to come.
“When they see everything going on they will want to be a part of it.”
It’s not cheap to be part of it despite Ascot rolling out the red carpet. It costs up to £25,000 to bring each horse over from America so Ward needs to see a return on the outlay.
He got just that last year when Lady Aurelia became his seventh Royal Ascot winner, scorching home by seven lengths in the Queen Mary.
She is back again, the hot favourite for today’s King’s Stand.
Ward, 49, said: “Lady Aurelia is a true champion - she is a sweetheart.
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“When she gets to the track she puts it all in and I think she’s going to run her A race. I think five furlongs is her game.”
Ward’s team is made up of the kind of beast punters have come to expect from Ward – big, fast, powerful two-year-olds.
The exception is Commonwealth Cup hope Bound For Nowhere. He is an unbeaten three-year-old who only made his debut in January.
Happy Like A Fool - a surprise ride for Ryan Moore - will bid to bag another Queen Mary and Princess Peggy lines up in the Albany.
Fairyland, owned by Coolmore, is set to join her.
Arawak runs in today’s Coventry and both Elizabeth Darcy and Nootka Sound go in the Windsor Castle. McErin is the one for the Norfolk.
It is clear to see Ward specialises in two-year-olds.
Over the years his horses have raised plenty of eyebrows when dwarfing British juveniles in the parade ring.
Coupled with America’s more relaxed rules on the use of medication it has led to some here questioning if they are taking on the US horses on a level playing field.
Ward said: “They’re taking hair samples. They can test whatever they want and hold it for the next 20 years. I’m not worried about that at all.
“It’s a craft I’ve learned.
“That’s how I got a niche in a very, very tough and competitive training circuit at Santa Anita when I was still only 21.
“I was able to win a lot of early two-year-old races and beat some of the better-bred, better-quality two-year-olds because mine were more ready and more focused.
“I know my job, and all my horses know their jobs too. It’s time to get this party started"