Ward has international plans for Golden Pal, Campanelle

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stablemates Golden Pal and Campanelle are set to bookend the Royal Ascot meeting in June in England for trainer Wesley Ward, with both targeting Group 1 events after winning their respective season debuts at Keeneland. After that, their paths could diverge – but both are eyeing another ambitious international trip.

The brilliant Golden Pal posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 109 winning the Grade 2 Shakertown on April 9. He is targeting the Group 1 King’s Stand on the straight course on opening day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting on June 14. He is seeking his first European victory after finishing a close second in the Group 2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot two years ago, and seventh in the Group 1 Nunthorpe last summer.

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Campanelle will be making her third trip to Royal Ascot and seeking her third victory there. She opened her season with a win in the Giant’s Causeway last Saturday, posting a career-best 99 Beyer. Her target is the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee at six furlongs on June 18.

Campanelle won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the meeting in 2020 as a juvenile and later took the Group 1 Prix Morny against males in France. Last year, she crossed the line second by a head in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, again against male foes, before being promoted to the victory via disqualification.

Golden Pal’s first fall target is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 5 at his Keeneland base. He won the 2020 Juvenile Turf Sprint here and the 2021 Turf Sprint at Del Mar. After that, he will make one more start in Australia, in a spot yet to be named. The plan is to showcase him to international breeders for the Coolmore group, which stands Golden Pal’s sire, Uncle Mo, at its Ashford Stud in Kentucky and which also owns a major Australian stud farm.

Ward hesitated when asked if the Breeders’ Cup was an ultimate goal for Campanelle.

“Obviously, she won a beautiful race,” he said. “I wouldn’t want her to take on Golden Pal right now.”

Instead, the filly also could head Down Under to target a rich prize for Stonestreet Farm, which campaigns horses in Australia and often uses those bloodlines to bolster its broodmare band. Ward said he and owner Barbara Banke had discussed sending Campanelle in the Everest, a turf sprint worth $15 million Australian, on Oct. 15 at Randwick.

“We’ve got to get through the summer and see how things materialize and see how she does,” Ward said.