Wesley Ward is back in Berkshire again and, after scratching Finnegan (Ire) (Unbridled's Song) from Tuesday's G2 Coventry S., the Washington native is double-handed with a pair of exciting prospects in Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S., a race he annexed with Jealous Again (Trippi) 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 2-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 Listed Chesham S., Love the Kitten (Kitten's Joy), in a 4 1/2 furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland Apr. 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 Al Shaqab Racing and Ritchie Fiddes' Easton Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who backed up an impressive May 8 maiden win at Musselburgh with a taking score in the downgraded Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley last time 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 2-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.”
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