Ward Confident He'll Have Another Successful Royal Ascot

What was once a surprise–that an American trainer could come to the prestigious Royal Ascot meet and win a race–has now become a norm. The primary reason, of course, is Wesley Ward. In 2009, he became the first U.S. trainer to win a race at Royal Ascot when he won the Listed Windsor Castle S. with Strike the Tiger (Tiger Ridge). Some 10 years and nine additional Ascot winners later, he will return this year with a contingent he says is a “very, very strong group.” The 2019 edition of Royal Ascot kicks off Tuesday morning with the traditional opening race, the G1 Queen Anne S. at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.

“I think that as long as we don't get a substantial amount of rain, I am going to go in confident when it comes to all our starters,” he said. “We have one outsider in Joker on Jack (Declaration of War) in the [Listed] Chesham S., but he had some excuses in his last race (when seventh in a conditions race at Newbury May 18) and he was quick enough to have won at Keeneland. Based on the success I've had the last 10 years here, I think they all have very good chances.”

Ward has entered nine horses and will take part in six races. As is customary with his Royal Ascot runners, eight of his nine starters are 2-year-olds. Only one other U.S.-based horse will run at the meet, the Joe Orseno-trained Imprimis (Broken Vow), who will start in Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. Though he has no representative this year, Ward sent out Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) to a slashing victory in the 2017 King's Stand.

While Ward clearly likes all his horses, he couldn't contain his enthusiasm for Maven (American Pharoah), who will start in Thursday's G2 Norfolk S. While most of Ward's early-season 2- year-olds not only win, they win by open lengths, Maven, however, managed to win by only a half-length when capturing his lone start, an Apr. 19 maiden at Aqueduct. The trainer warned bettors/punters not to let the relatively small margin of victory fool them.

“The one who worked the best of all among the 2-year-olds I brought here was Maven,” he said. “He worked lights out last Thursday at Kempton. He has kind of been growing into himself. He's a May 24 foal and he's really gone through a growing spurt. In his one race, he showed eye-opening speed from gate and I really think this is a colt on the improve. With every work, week to week, he improves.

Ward bred Maven and was also the trainer and co-owner of his dam Richies Party Girl (Any Given Saturday). She was a three-time stakes winner, all of them coming in grass sprints.

“He's really emulating his mother,” Ward said.

Maven was entered for Monday's Goffs London Sale, but he was bought back on a bid of £725,000 and will race in Richard Ravin's colors in the Norfolk.

Ward said he's also very confident in the chances of the lone older horse he will start, the 5-year-old Bound For Nowhere (The Factor), who will run in Saturday's GI Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Owned and bred by Ward, he missed by just three quarters of a length, finishing third to Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), in the same race last year when dismissed at 16-1. He also tried Royal Ascot in 2017, but had to settle for fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

Ward used the Apr. 6 GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland as a prep and Bound For Nowhere, where he missed by just a neck, losing to fellow Royal Ascot starter Imprimis.

“I really like Bound for Nowhere,” he said. “He's a beautiful, physical specimen. He's a big giant of a beauty. He's got a confident temperament to him, but, at the same time, is almost cocky. He's easy on himself and is very sound. I'm really excited about this horse.”

Ward may also prove hard to beat in what will be the first race at the meet in which he will compete, Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. for 2-year-old fillies. In a field that drew 28 entrants, he has 'TDN Rising Stars' Anna's Fast (Fast Anna) and Kimari (Munnings), who were two of his more impressive juvenile winners thus far in the U.S. Anna's Fast won her maiden at Keeneland by 5 1/2 lengths Apr. 24. A day later, Kimari romped by 15 lengths in her debut at Keeneland despite breaking slowly. Making her performance all the more impressive, she defeated males.

Ward's Royal Ascot runners have come with a number of different jockeys over the years, some European, some U.S.-based. This year he is using only U.S. riders and dealt the best hand of any to 24-year-old Tyler Gaffalione. Some may see that as a bit of a risky move, as Gaffalione has never ridden a horse in Europe. But in Ward, also once a young jockey sensation and like Gaffalione an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, he has a huge fan.

“I am very impressed with this kid,” said Ward. “He has youthful enthusiasm and, from what I've seen, he is a student of the game. He's really going to be huge star in the coming years. He studies, he's very articulate when he speaks and he's a wonderful kid. I have two sons ad I hope they both grow up to be the gentlemen he is.”