Royal Ascot: Ward's eight led by Judy the Beauty
Trainer Wesley Ward plans to have eight starters at the Royal Ascot meeting in England from Tuesday through June 18, and considers the 2-year-old filly Judy the Beauty to be his best chance for his first winner since 2009 at the prestigious meeting.
Ward has seven 2-year-olds and the 3-year-old filly Holiday for Kitten currently training in France.
Ward, 43, has had five winners in Europe this spring, preparing for Royal Ascot. Italo, Gentlemens Code, and Tiz Terrific won maiden races in England and France, while Everyday Dave and Judy the Beauty won allowance races last month in France.
Tuesday will be a busy day for Ward. Holiday for Kitten, the winner of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland in April, will start against males in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs on turf.
Ward has entered Italo in Tuesdsay’s Group 2 Coventry Stakes over six furlongs, and Holdin Bullets and Gentlemens Code in the Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs. Holdin Bullets is also nominated for the Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs on June 18.
Gypsy Robin, a maiden race winner at Keeneland in April, and Judy the Beauty, unbeaten in two starts, are cross-entered in Wednesday’s Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs for 2-year-olds fillies and the Group 3 Albany Stakes over six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies on June 17.
“She’s the most talented horse I have,” Ward said of Judy the Beauty.
Everyday Dave will start in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs on June 16, while Tiz Terrific is nominated for the Chesham.
Ward became the first American-based trainer to win at Royal Ascot in 2009 when Strike the Tiger won the Windsor Castle Stakes and Jealous Again won the Queen Mary Stakes.