Ed Walker

Haydock Sprint Cup Next For Starman

Starman (GB) (Dutch art {GB}), the winner of the G1 July Cup, will aim for a start in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 4 after running a close third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. A winner of his first three starts last fall, including the Listed Garrowby S. at York in September, the 4-year-old colt did not care for the soft ground in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. and ran unplaced in October. he was back on top...

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Rothschild Mission For Primo Bacio

David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will venture to Deauville on Aug. 3 in an attempt to get off the mark at the highest level in the G1 Prix Rothschild. Trained by Ed Walker, the 3-year-old filly won the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. at York on May 14 by three lengths, but could manage only fifth in the G1 Falmouth S. on July 9 after meeting trouble in running. "She goes for the Prix Rothschild at Deauville," Walker said. "She had no luck in the Falmouth. There...

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Dutch Art's Starman On Top In The July Cup

With the weather staying clear ahead of Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, David Ward's Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) had his day to deliver on all the abundant promise he had shown so far in his brief career in a strong renewal. Successful in the May 12 G2 Duke of York S. over this six-furlong trip, the 9-2 second favourite was buried in mid-division of the group racing stand's side throughout the early stages with the pace rapid up ahead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to...

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Starman On Track For July Cup

Rising star sprinter Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is on course for the July 10 G1 July Cup, with trainer Ed Walker saying he expects ground conditions to be in the 4-year-old's favour. The David Ward homebred was forced to miss last weekend's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. after significant rain fell at Royal Ascot; that course is the scene of Starman's lone defeat, where he beat two home in last year's G1 British Champions Sprint S. over the soft ground. The lightly raced 4-year-old was the first-up winner of the...

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Starman Set to Miss Jubilee

Thursday to Friday at Royal Ascot was like chalk and cheese and now that the meeting has become chopped in two by the unprecedented rainstorm there is only need for mudlarks to apply for Saturday's finale. Just as David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was pulled out of the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, so there must be a major doubt as to whether his Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) will be allowed to take part in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Looking the one to beat before the...

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Ward's Patience Rewarded With Star Quality

If you asked a trainer to design the perfect owner, he or she may well come up with something very close to David Ward. His horses would likely agree, too. Ward had two runners as York's Dante meeting and they both returned to Ed Walker's stable victorious. The 4-year-old homebred Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) won the G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. on the opening day, followed 48 hours later by the listed success of Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Both now head to Royal Ascot with Group...

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The Weekly Wrap: Coming Of Age

In February, the inevitable announcement came that Pivotal (GB) was to be pensioned at Cheveley Park Stud at the age of 28. David and Patricia Thompson's homebred son of Polar Falcon has been one of the great British breeding stories of the last few decades and the sturdy chestnut has been a great friend to small and major breeders alike through his magnificent stud innings.  As he continues his retirement, so does his legacy gain momentum. A few months before Pivotal was retired, his son Siyouni (Fr) had been crowned...

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Dutch Art's Starman On Top in the Duke of York

David Ward's homebred Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) posted a third straight career victory in September's Listed Garrowby S. over six furlongs at York and was under seven lengths adrift when confronted with testing conditions and losing his unbeaten record with a 14th in Ascot's Oct. 17 G1 British Champions Sprint. Sent postward for Wednesday's G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. back at the Knavesmire venue for his seasonal return, the 4-year-old bay reached a new standard by defeating a swathe of seasoned sprinters in the six-furlong dash. Racing...

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Half To Deep Brillante Starts At Donny

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-sister to a Classic winner. 1.50 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, f, 8fT BELOVED (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a notable newcomer for the in-form Ed Walker stable, being David Ward's 350,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 half-sister to the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero and sire...

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English King Wildcard for Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale

English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), a listed winner and rated 118 by Timeform, has been entered in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale as a wildcard. Favoured in the G1 Investec Derby, the Bjorn Nielsen runner was fifth that day, and added a fourth in the G3 Gordon S. in July. Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux et al, English King was most recently sixth in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp on Sept. 13. Consigned by Ed Walker Racing, he sells as lot 1153A. "I genuinely believe English King...

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English King “Really Well”; Future Undecided

Trainer Ed Walker said Bjorn Nielsen's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) is "really well" two weeks after running fifth as the favourite in the G1 Investec Derby, but that no future plans have been decided. "He's recovered from Epsom and put the weight back on that he lost--we're very happy with him," the trainer said. "There is no great plan at the moment, that's for sure. We're just mulling things over and we'll see what we come up with. The main thing is the horse...

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French Aim For English King

A day removed from the G1 Investec Derby, trainer Ed Walker said English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), fifth as the early favourite, had come out of the race well and could target the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in September. "We'll let the dust settle and mull over it for a few days," Walker said. "I think an obvious target would be the Grand Prix de Paris, because he's French-bred and qualifies for the premiums. I wouldn't rule out the St Leger, but I wouldn't want to run him on...

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