Royal Ascot

The Coolmore partners' Acapulco (Scat Daddy), the eye-catching winner of last week's G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot for trainer Wesley Ward, could take the path less traveled by Ward's precocious juveniles and take in the G1 Nunthorpe S. against older rivals Aug. 21. Ward has yet to run any of his Royal Ascot winners in the Nunthorpe, but he admitted the weight allowance--Acapulco would receive as much as 25 pounds from her rivals--makes it tempting. "She's really something," said Ward. "She's always been a big filly; that's why...

The world's greatest week of racing, Royal Ascot, lived up to its billing last week. British-based operations Godolphin, Shadwell, and Juddmonte's Prince Khalid Abdullah each won two races. Moyglare, the Aga Khan, the Wertheimers, and Al Shaqab all got on the scoreboard. American-based trainer Wesley Ward hit the target twice, taking his Royal Ascot total to six winners from 31 runners since 2009, and the Australians had a near-miss when their top sprinter, Brazen Beau, from the first crop of Invincible Spirit's son, I Am Invincible, was just nailed by...

Wesley Ward was no shrinking violet in the build-up to Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, and stressed just how well Acapulco (Scat Daddy) had prepared for her date with destiny. Having surprised her trainer by fading into third after attempting to make all tackling 4 1/2 furlongs on the Churchill Downs main track May 8, he reported the imposing chestnut had breezed in eye-popping style in subsequent Keeneland works. Ultimately, the $750,000 OBS March purchase (click here for breeze video) justified every breath of hyperbole, and improved...