July 12th, 2016 | 
Author: Terribly sad today to hear of the sad death of Darlan. We had written about…
Ward firms up sprinting plans
American trainer Wesley Ward has confirmed his intentions for two of his leading sprinters, with British racegoers set to enjoy a second glimpse of the outstanding filly Lady Aurelia at Newmarket in the autumn.
Lady Aurelia lit up Royal Ascot last month with the manner of her blistering Queen Mary Stakes win.
The daughter of Scat Daddy was making just her second racecourse appearance as she delivered a breathtaking turn of foot to score over five-furlongs underneath Frankie Dettori.
That victory was enough to earn Lady Aurelia early quotes for York’s Nunthorpe Stakes but her trainer suggested she would be unlikely to contest that race against her elders, given that his Acapulco had been turned over by Mecca’s Angel when attempting to do just that last August.
Renowned for his prowess in training prodigious sprinters, Ward has now confirmed that Acapulco will get a second bite at the cherry in the Nunthorpe at York, a race for which he is already prominent in the horse racing betting as he bids to go one better than last year.
While Acapulco heads to the Knavesmire, Lady Aurelia is destined for France before returning to British shores in September for a run at Newmarket.
The Prix Morny at Deauville on 21st August will see the filly stepping up in trip to 6f, with Lady Aurelia then bound for Flat HQ and the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over the same trip the following month.
There can be no doubt about it: this filly is perhaps the most exciting horse to emerge on the Flat since the great Frankel.
The official rating of 123 that was awarded by the Racing Post for her sublime effort at Royal Ascot is the highest ever awarded to a two-year-old of either sex over five furlongs.
On paper, that was a stunning performance and it is perhaps only eclipsed by how impressive it looked to the naked eye as Lady Aurelia increased the tempo at the 2f pole having set a keen pace in front.
The sense of excitement to see this filly in action again is already palpable as the racing world ponders whether, quite simply, she is as good as she looked at Ascot.
Just before she pitches up in France, however, Acapulco will return to York.
Also out of Scat Daddy, Acapulco was forced to sit out Royal Ascot with the soft ground going against him. Soft ground too may have been at play when he was collared by Mecca’s Angel at York last August.
Ward will be keeping his fingers crossed for clear skies overhead in Yorkshire in the weeks between now and 19th August.
The noises emanating from the camp pre-Ascot suggested that Acapulco is now a stronger and more imposing individual than he was last term, his trainer seemingly convinced the horse has trained on well since his winter break.
Both are now at home in Keeneland, where Ward confirmed them to be in great order ahead of their upcoming missions to Europe.
The trainer stated that ‘the flights are booked’ for both Lady Aurelia and Acapulco and so the countdown is on for these two jet-like speedsters to make their next European appearances.