Fresh off a victory with Create A Dream (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Ascot Wednesday, American-based trainer Wesley Ward has entered four juveniles for The Curragh's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. Aug. 7. The quartet includes Create A Dream; Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and Silvertoni (Tapit), both debut winners at Keeneland this month; and Angelo's Ashes (Exchange Rate), who was second on debut at Keeneland.
“They are four very nice 2-year-olds and could all run at Royal Ascot, and then we are planning to be represented in the Keeneland Phoenix S.,” Ward explained. “Two very great friends of mine–Rogers Beasley, Keeneland's Director Racing, and Paul Shanahan–have both asked me about having runners in Ireland, and so I would like to do it.”
Ward added, “They train at Keeneland so would go back there after Ascot, and then we will see where we are with them with a view to coming to The Curragh. Winning this sort of race would be a real feather in my cap and a credit on my CV. Winning at The Curragh would be something I'd cherish for the rest of my life so it's something I would love to do.”
The Ward runners would be the first U.S.-based runners at The Curragh since Fourstars Allstar (Compliance) won the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 1991. The Keeneland Phoenix S. was won last year by the U.S.-bred 2-year-old champion and Saturday's G1 2000 Guineas favourite Air Force Blue (War Front), and his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has 19 initial entries in this year's race, and has won it 14 times in the past.
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