Letter from Ascot: Shang Shang Shang Stars for Ward

[Wandering Eyes]

In less than a London minute, Wesley Ward turned into a hero just after 2:35 in the afternoon at Royal Ascot in the G2 Norfolk S.

The margin of victory was shorter than a nose, shorter than half-a-nose. It was a whisker.

Because the Ward stable has been cold over the first two days, the price on Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) climbed all morning long, up to 5-1. The fans were giving up on the 1984

Eclipse Award apprentice jockey turned conditioner, until this perfect sunny afternoon. His horse wore saddle cloth #10, and it was Royal Ascot winner #10 for Ward, the most successful trainer based outside Europe.

Just turned 50 year-old Ward was in a jovial mood in paddock, giving instructions for the television crew in Spanish to his pal and rider, Joel Rosario. And after the five-furlong jaunt, Ward gave great credit to his jock, saying Rosario was an early morning worker at his barn all year long in the USA, working every 2-year-old that he was asked.

Jim Gluckson, representing the Breeders’ Cup, was at the track, letting us know that this was a “Win and You’re In” event, meaning even though Shang Shang Shang was the only filly in the race, she gets an automatic berth for the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November at Churchill Downs, which is open to colts and fillies.

In other another headline among Thursday action, the longest, toughest, more grueling, oldest and rich G1 Gold Cup S. went to Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea of the Stars {Ire}) after 20 furlongs. Trained by John Gosden, and ridden by Frankie Dettori, it was one of the best stretch drives seen in the more than 200 chapters. Dettori notched his sixth Gold Cup win and 60th Royal Ascot victory. Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) was second, with jockey Christophe Soumillion bouncing up and down in his saddle like a yo-yo. You’ve got to see this! #Strange.

Ryan Moore tightened up the race for Royal Ascot champion jockey with winners in the G3 Hampton Court S. and the G2 Ribblesdale S. 3 1/2-1 odds-on trainer John Gosden is looking good with two more glorious days to go. Summer arrived, the champagne is on ice, and the 92 year-old Queen of England we understand, will be studying the entries before getting in the Landau carriage for the Friday trip down the home stretch tomorrow.

 

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