Classics 2016
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Wesley Ward, the first American trainer to have winners at Royal Ascot, has a team of eight primed for the big meeting next week.
The Keeneland-based handler is in confident mood as he bids to improve on his tally in 2009 when he sent out Strike The Tiger to win the Windsor Castle Stakes and Jealous Again to land the Queen Mary.
"We're ready for battle," he said.
Once again Ward is pinning his hopes on the juvenile prizes and has all six races for two-year-olds covered with a squad of seven youngsters.
On the first day, he has Italo entered for the Coventry Stakes and both Holdin Bullets and recent Folkestone winner Gentlemans Code in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
On Wednesday's card, Ward has Gypsy Robin and Judy The Beauty in the Queen Mary Stakes while on Thursday he has Everyday Dave in the Norfolk Stakes.
Gypsy Robin and Judy The Beauty have alternative entries in the Albany Stakes on Friday and Tiz Terrific and/or Holdin Bullets will fly the stars and stripes in the Chesham Stakes on Saturday.
The elder member of the Ward raiding party is Holiday For Kitten, who goes for the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.
Ward's string has been based at Xavier Nakkachdji's stable at Chantilly since April under the supervision of his long-time assistant Blake Heap and most of them have been in winning action.
"Hopefully we'll get some luck. I'd really like to thank Xavier who trains in France for helping us out," said Ward.
The horses will travel over from France to Ascot on Saturday when the trainer himself will make the journey from the United States.
Ward has also been helped by Steve Leving, who he describes as "the world's foremost racing authority".
Leving has been instrumental in choosing the best races for the Ward team.
He gave the lowdown on each Royal Ascot raider
"We've entered Italo in the Coventry. He won at Longchamp first time out," he said.
"Holdin Bullets will run in either the Windsor Castle or the Chesham, or both.
"He's not run in Europe yet. He was in a race but was scratched. He's a bay colt by Ghostzapper and won first time out breaking his maiden by a length going wire to wire in 51 seconds flat over four and half furlongs. He had a lot of public support in his first race."
"Gentlemans Code, the one British racing fans are familiar with, is in the Windsor Castle.
"Holiday For Kitten, the only older horse Wesley will be running at Royal Ascot, is in the King's Stand Stakes.
"Gypsy Robin has been entered in both the Queen Mary and the Albany. It has not been completely determined yet which race she is going to run in. She could run in either of the two.
"She's run just the once at Keeneland over four and a half furlongs in 50.2 seconds, a fast time, and she won by seven and a half lengths in an 11-horse field. She can really run.
"Similarly the horse that won in Paris, Judy The Beauty, is also nominated for both those races.
"She won in Keeneland in a fast time and then won again over five furlongs at Chantilly last month.
"She beat Ruby's Day by a neck who went on to beat an unbeaten colt (Family One) in her next race. Judy The Beauty has trained well and is a good one.
"Everyday Dave has run twice. He won his maiden easily in Keeneland and then he won at Chantilly by eight lengths in a time of 57.3 seconds.
"After that race Timeform gave him a rating of 104p. He's slated to go for the Norfolk Stakes.
"Tiz Terrific is a filly who has been nominated for the Chesham and she won by two and a half lengths at Longchamp.
"So far, so good. You have to be lucky and it has been firm ground which was beneficial. The horses were well-trained and they have talent.
"It is different now to what it was when Wesley won at Ascot the year before last.
"He won with Strike The Tiger, he won with Jealous Again, but the fashion he did it was a little different because the horses went directly to England for the races.
"Now this is new territory and when you're running at Royal Ascot you're running against the best horses in the world. It's a difficult assignment."
The Keeneland-based handler is in confident mood as he bids to improve on his tally in 2009 when he sent out Strike The Tiger to win the Windsor Castle Stakes and Jealous Again to land the Queen Mary.
"We're ready for battle," he said.
Once again Ward is pinning his hopes on the juvenile prizes and has all six races for two-year-olds covered with a squad of seven youngsters.
On the first day, he has Italo entered for the Coventry Stakes and both Holdin Bullets and recent Folkestone winner Gentlemans Code in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
On Wednesday's card, Ward has Gypsy Robin and Judy The Beauty in the Queen Mary Stakes while on Thursday he has Everyday Dave in the Norfolk Stakes.
Gypsy Robin and Judy The Beauty have alternative entries in the Albany Stakes on Friday and Tiz Terrific and/or Holdin Bullets will fly the stars and stripes in the Chesham Stakes on Saturday.
The elder member of the Ward raiding party is Holiday For Kitten, who goes for the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.
Ward's string has been based at Xavier Nakkachdji's stable at Chantilly since April under the supervision of his long-time assistant Blake Heap and most of them have been in winning action.
"Hopefully we'll get some luck. I'd really like to thank Xavier who trains in France for helping us out," said Ward.
The horses will travel over from France to Ascot on Saturday when the trainer himself will make the journey from the United States.
Ward has also been helped by Steve Leving, who he describes as "the world's foremost racing authority".
Leving has been instrumental in choosing the best races for the Ward team.
He gave the lowdown on each Royal Ascot raider
"We've entered Italo in the Coventry. He won at Longchamp first time out," he said.
"Holdin Bullets will run in either the Windsor Castle or the Chesham, or both.
"He's not run in Europe yet. He was in a race but was scratched. He's a bay colt by Ghostzapper and won first time out breaking his maiden by a length going wire to wire in 51 seconds flat over four and half furlongs. He had a lot of public support in his first race."
"Gentlemans Code, the one British racing fans are familiar with, is in the Windsor Castle.
"Holiday For Kitten, the only older horse Wesley will be running at Royal Ascot, is in the King's Stand Stakes.
"Gypsy Robin has been entered in both the Queen Mary and the Albany. It has not been completely determined yet which race she is going to run in. She could run in either of the two.
"She's run just the once at Keeneland over four and a half furlongs in 50.2 seconds, a fast time, and she won by seven and a half lengths in an 11-horse field. She can really run.
"Similarly the horse that won in Paris, Judy The Beauty, is also nominated for both those races.
"She won in Keeneland in a fast time and then won again over five furlongs at Chantilly last month.
"She beat Ruby's Day by a neck who went on to beat an unbeaten colt (Family One) in her next race. Judy The Beauty has trained well and is a good one.
"Everyday Dave has run twice. He won his maiden easily in Keeneland and then he won at Chantilly by eight lengths in a time of 57.3 seconds.
"After that race Timeform gave him a rating of 104p. He's slated to go for the Norfolk Stakes.
"Tiz Terrific is a filly who has been nominated for the Chesham and she won by two and a half lengths at Longchamp.
"So far, so good. You have to be lucky and it has been firm ground which was beneficial. The horses were well-trained and they have talent.
"It is different now to what it was when Wesley won at Ascot the year before last.
"He won with Strike The Tiger, he won with Jealous Again, but the fashion he did it was a little different because the horses went directly to England for the races.
"Now this is new territory and when you're running at Royal Ascot you're running against the best horses in the world. It's a difficult assignment."
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Replies: 7
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Interesting to see the comparison of Oz/US runners at Royal Ascot between 5 and 6f since a couple apart most of the success's have come at the shorter distance
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Gentelman's code ran a blinder, just swallowed up inside last 50 yards... probably the rain Sun/Mon put paid to his chances... but if Judythe beauty and others are stronger chances then I shall have a few farthings... love the fact the man has the cahounas to come all the way with his nags and have a pop at the money... apparently he was plastered in the bar the other night
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wesley ward is a tin pot trainer in the usa who caught us all cold 2 years ago since then his horses have nearly always come last in usa not even in top 30 trainers
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Judy the Beauty according to the trainer is the most talented horse he has ever had
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That's not really the point of the thread Clueclux... We were talking about the chances of his RA team... not what you think of his skill mset and how he rates in the US...
Henry Cecil was down to 30 horses a while back and didn't get great results... doesn't make him any less a trainer... NOT saying Wesley Ward is in his league but Ward's USA standing is irrelevant... of MORE relevance is the fact he is an ex champion jockey over there, won the 1984 Eclipse award for Outstanding Apprentice jock and clearly knows the front from the back of a horse... and anyway a decent horse can win even if trained by a tinpot trainer... Gentleman's C Ode ran a blinder yesterday and on faster ground and if the jock had stayed straight he might have pinched nit - but we knew that: Ward was quoted Monday as saying he thought the Rain had dented the chances... I for one will be looking long and hard at Judythe Beauty later this week... we're tryting to find winners and if he gives me one I don't care a GNAT's LEFT GONAD about his US form or your opinions on his talents |
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yes but henry had been king of the castle wesley is ajumped up boy from kentucky who should stick to mucking out pigs never has or never will be anything but a jamie osbourne of the training world
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STILL not the point - we're discussing his horses chance - ken ruddy ivory was no SMS or SHC but could place a horse and WW has proven he can too...
We're discussing if he has a winner in his rucksack... Judythebeauty may be it this year... |