Ward strikes again with No Nay Never in Prix Morny

Trainer Wesley Ward has done it again, capturing a major European stakes for 2-year-olds with a horse shipped from the United States, as No Nay Never won the Group 1 Prix Morny on Sunday at Deauville.

No Nay Never, unbeaten in three starts, won his second race overseas, having taken the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting. The Norfolk was run on a firm turf course, and No Nay Never’s debut came on Polytrack at Keeneland.

On Sunday in France, No Nay Never was faced with a course softened by rain. Ward, who had seen two other French raiders go down to defeat earlier in the week, strongly considered scratching from the Morny but left No Nay Never to take his chance, and he was rewarded with a one-length victory. David Flores rode the winner, a son of Scat Daddy who was racing for the first time in Coolmore’s colors.

Prominent throughout the six-furlong, straight-course race, No Nay Never seized command of the $470,000 Morny about one furlong from the finish and never was seriously challenged. Vorda, the race favorite, finished second, followed by Rizeena.

Also on Sunday at Deauville, the Andre Fabre-trained filly Romantica scored a 1 1/4-length victory over Sarkiyla in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet, a 1 1/4-mile test for older fillies and mares.