Ward Finalises Ascot Team

[Wandering Eyes]

Wesley Ward’s annual Royal Ascot raiding party has been finalised as the trainer bids to add to the 10 winners he has enjoyed since targeting the meeting for the first time in 2009. Eight 2-year-olds will be joined by older sprinter Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) who finished third in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. last year, and while in recent years punters could often back the Ward juvenile ‘blind’, that process will not be as straightforward this year with the trainer likely to be doubly represented in several contests. Ward will be utilising John Velazquez and Tyler Gaffalione with the latter, successful in the GI Preakness on War Of Will (War Front), making his riding debut in England. Having run so well at Royal Ascot last year Ward obviously has high hopes for Bound For Nowehere who blew away the cobwebs with a runner up spot in a Grade II at Keeneland in April. “He has some beautiful breezes here at Keeneland, where he had a really nice race, is dead sound and has no issues,” Ward said. “He will be coming over with that race underneath him and a string of quick drills in the morning. He should be ready to run the race of his life this year,” he added.

With seven juvenile fillies in his squad Ward has a job allocating them in the most suitable races but Nayibeth (Carpe Diem) is one whose target is definite. “I really, really like her,” said Ward. “She won with speed to spare here at Keeneland. She was my most impressive 2-year-old winner because she won against the bridle. She will run in the Albany.” Ward also has care of the American Pharoah colt Maven who he bred himself and he booked his ticket when making a winning debut at Aqueduct in April on the dirt. “He won the first 2-year-old race of the year in New York and was given an 84 Beyer figure – which is very high. We are going to shoot for the Norfolk with him,” Ward said.

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