Wesley Ward keen to target more big pots this side of the pond with Royal Ascot sprint stars Campanelle and Golden Pal

WESLEY Ward is planning to plunder more of the top European races with his star sprinters. After being trapped back in the States due to travel restrictions, speed king Ward could only watch on from afar as Campanelle triumphed in Saturday’s Queen Mary. But he hopes to be able to make the journey across next […]

WESLEY Ward is planning to plunder more of the top European races with his star sprinters.

After being trapped back in the States due to travel restrictions, speed king Ward could only watch on from afar as Campanelle triumphed in Saturday’s Queen Mary.

AFP

But he hopes to be able to make the journey across next time following a fourth win in the fillies’ sprint.

And the Keeneland trainer will tread a familiar path with a pair of his speedballs that went well at the Royal Meeting.

Ward said: “We had a little celebration and a little champagne on Saturday afternoon, which was nice.

“It was a relief to get a winner, because we didn’t have one last year, and seconds are not what you want – nobody remembers you finishing second!

“The Prix Morny is where we’re headed with Campanelle. She’ll come home now and have a couple of gallops on the beautiful grass here in Keeneland, and hopefully then she’ll be ready to ship to Deauville.

“It’s actually a good trip for a horse, because you can fly direct from Chicago to Paris. I’m certainly hoping I’ll be able to go, too.”

Conditions went against Golden Pal before his run in the Norfolk Stakes on Friday, but he only found Michael Bell’s The Lir Jet too good

And Ward will now point his youngster towards a familiar target as he hopes to win the Nunthorpe Stakes after two near misses with Acapulco and Lady Aurelia.

Ward added: “I’ve spoken to the owners, and we’re going to aim for the Nunthorpe.

“I’ve been second in the race twice, and it would be great to win it. Irad Ortiz Jr travelled over to ride Acapulco when she ran in it as a two-year old – because obviously the two-year-olds carry a light weight.

“I would hope by the time York comes around, he’ll be able to travel over to ride Golden Pal – that’s the idea.”

Meanwhile Kimari won’t make the trip back across the pond and will stay back in the States with the Breeders’ Cup the aim.

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