Wesley Ward is back in Berkshire again and, after scratching Finnegan
(Unbridled’s Song) from Tuesday’s Coventry S. (Eng-G2), the Washington native is
double-handed with a pair of exciting prospects in Wednesday’s Queen Mary S.
(Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot, a race he annexed with Jealous Again in his
breakthrough year of 2009.
Acapulco (Scat Daddy), who faded into third after attempting to make all in a
4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs in her only prior go May
8, has raised the bar in her workouts since that reversal and Ward is confident
compensation for that defeat is in the offing.
“I went into the race at Churchill extremely confident and didn’t think she
could lose,” he said of the $750,000 purchase out of OBS March. “The only thing
with a two-year-old out of the sale is they don’t have as much foundation under
them as when I break them myself.”
Following that debut downing, the chestnut was then sent to Keeneland, one of
Ward’s favored stomping grounds, to breeze a week later and the manner of her
work gave Ward heightened cause for optimism.
“Keeneland is probably the closest thing we have to a European track over
here; it’s a different type of grass and more like a European turf track,” the
trainer added. “A lot of my horses work very well in Florida, then I take them
to Keeneland and they don’t handle it as well. I know after I’ve taken them
there whether they can go to Ascot or not.
“She did, by far and away, the best work I ever had of any horse I trained on
the grass. It was a sight to see, a couple of the Coolmore boys were out to
watch it themselves and it was phenomenal. Since then, all her works have been
lights out and, if she runs anything like she’s breezed, there’s no way anything
I ever had would beat her.”
Ward also has an able deputy in Bruised Orange (City Zip), who made all to
inflict a three-length defeat on stablemate and probable contender for
Saturday’s Chesham S., Love the Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), in a 4 1/2 furlong maiden
special weight at Keeneland April 8.
“Bruised Orange is a very fast filly,” the trainer continued. “She bounced
out of there in that first race at Keeneland and was gone. She’s very smart and
does everything right. When I mentioned that breeze with Acapulco, it was
Bruised Orange who she ran away from, but we stayed on the trail. I took her to
Arlington and her last couple of works there have been very, very good. If
Acapulco for some reason runs a dismal race, this filly will be there to do it.”
The home defense is led by Easton Angel (Dark Angel), who backed up an
impressive May 8 maiden win at Musselburgh with a taking score in the downgraded
Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley May 23.
“Easton Angel has come out of the race at Beverley really well,” said regular
pilot Paul Mulrennan. “I’ve been to (trainer) Michael Dods’s yard and had a sit
on her. She’s very laid back and does everything easy. She’s very professional
and has not even had a smack yet, and I’m really looking forward to Royal Ascot.
“She’s stepping up in class, but she’s done everything right and is improving
all the time. She’s always shown plenty at home, but you never know for sure
until they do it on the track. Ascot can upset two-year-olds, but she has a
great temperament and I don’t see it being a problem. I think the track will
suit her — it’s a big five furlongs, they will go a gallop and it will play
into her hands.”
Third in both the English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1),
Ivawood (Zebedee) sets a clear standard as he steps back more into his comfort
zone on Wednesday, reverting to seven furlongs for the Jersey S. (Eng-G3).
Beaten three lengths by Tuesday’s St. James’s Palace (Ire-G1) scorer
Gleneagles (Galileo) when forced to race from the front away from the main
action in the May 2 Newmarket classic, the bay was just over a length behind
that rival when again positively placed in the Curragh version three weeks
later. Despite having to carry a five-pound penalty for his juvenile wins in the
July S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket and Richmond S. (Eng-G2) at Goodwood, he has all
the credentials to emulate Mozart, Gale Force Ten and Mustajeeb in winning this
on the back of a placing in the Irish Guineas.
“Ivawood deserves another win, (and) at The Curragh Hughesie felt that he
might have nicked it had the Ballydoyle pacemaker not hassled him in front at
the three-pole,” trainer Richard Hannon commented. “There is no doubt that
Ivawood does stay the mile, but he also has explosive pace so dropping back to
seven furlongs seemed a more sensible route rather than going into a third tough
battle with Gleneagles.
“Obviously, we have the penalty to carry from last year, but he has been
moving great at home. Although stall four might not look ideal, there is plenty
of pace all around us over there, so hopefully Ivawood will get back on track
before heading to France for the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-G1).”
Just a half-length behind Ivawood when fourth in the Two Thousand Guineas was
Bossy Guest (Medicean), who has five pounds in hand on his archrival and arrives
here fresh. Godolphin supply a duo in Toscanini (Shamardal) and Devonshire (Fast
Company), who are moving up and down in trip, respectively. The former, who was
second in the Vincent O’Brien National S. (Ire-G1) at The Curragh in September,
goes a furlong further than when a latest third in the Lacken S. (Ire-G3) at
Naas at the start of the month, while Devonshire is shortened up following her
third in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) at The Curragh May 24.
Of Toscanini, trainer Mick Halford said, “We had the choice of the
Commonwealth Cup (Eng-G1), but the Jersey looks the right race for him. He
wasn’t suited by the ground conditions on his latest run at Naas, but before
that run, he won well at Navan. He loves fast ground and we think he’ll run a
nice race.”
Devonshire is improving with each effort and trainer Willie McCreery is
hopeful she can hold her own.
“It will be tough taking on the colts and Ivawood is the standout, but she’ll
be getting eight pounds from him,” he commented. “She’s been in good form since
the Guineas and is a lovely filly. Nothing seems to faze her.”
Wesley Ward supplies another runner in Luck of the Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), who
was runner-up to last year’s Royal Ascot phenomenon Hootenanny (Quality Road) in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) in October and who was a latest fourth in
the American Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs May 2.