Outfielder ready to captain Ward's Ascot team
The son of Speightstown, who Ward retains an interest in, will sport the colours of Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation at the Royal meeting and also has US baseball star Jayson Werth among his ownership – with the exciting colt named in honour of the World Series winner's achievements on the ballpark.
Ward told the PA news agency: 'Outfielder is going to be leading them on to the plane.
'He's very quick, very smart and a highly intelligent colt. He's a big colt and when you see him you will think he's a three-year-old and we're really excited.
$850,000 price tag and he can run alright! Outfielder kicks his rivals out of the way on debut for Wesley Ward and @amoracingltd at @ChurchillDowns!
Royal @Ascot next? pic.twitter.com/bUvuf19QI1
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 23, 2025
'Jayson Werth is a big name in baseball and Outfielder was his position and I chose the name and cleared it with Kia and when I told Jayson as a surprise, he was elated the horse was named after him.
'We'll have some others as well and we're looking forward to it as always – my family have been coming over for many years now. It's such an annual family affair and we always get excited for it.'
Since becoming the first American to score at the summer showpiece in 2009, Ward has gone on to win a further 11 times at the Royal meeting, but in recent years has been thwarted on his yearly visit to Berkshire, with Campanelle's Commonwealth Cup success in 2021 the last of his 12 triumphs.
However, Outfielder looked the perfect Royal Ascot model when surging to a bloodless six-and-a-quarter-length victory on debut at Churchill Downs recently and was immediately introduced to the Norfolk Stakes betting, for which he is as short as 3-1 and challenging Aidan O'Brien's Charles Darwin for favouritism in places.
The 57-year-old is now resisting any temptation to stretch the strapping colt out to six furlongs for the Coventry Stakes, believing 'it will take a very good horse to beat him' in a race he has claimed with No Nay Never (2013) and Shang Shang Shang (2018) in the past.
'I don't think stretching out to six furlongs is going to be a problem, especially when you see him, but not right now,' explained Ward.
'The Coventry would require a couple of runs and it's a race that is a very difficult race for two-year-olds at this time of year. It's won by a horse that is going to go on and race over further – like this colt will in time – but I would say going into it you would need a couple of runs before you go.
'He would need a little bit more seasoning for the Coventry, while the Norfolk will hit him right between the eyes. As fast as he is, he'll come out running and it will take a very good horse to beat him.'
Outfielder cost $850,000 at the sales, but has looked to be worth every cent since the outset, with Ward blown away by the colt's attributes.
Ward added: 'We took him to multiple different tracks in south Florida and did zero speed works and just galloped, he galloped a few times on the grass and seemed to love it – he floated over the grass.
'In April we started taking him out the gate a few times and in his first work, when we let him go just an eighth of a mile, we were like 'wow' – it was a real eye-opener to see a big horse to be so quick and agile and moving like a cat.
'Joel Rosario had breezed him from the onset and we had him scheduled to run on the dirt at Aqueduct but the race didn't go. Knowing how he moved so well on the grass in Florida, I opted to run at Churchill Downs.
'Joel was committed to riding in New York and I put Johnny Velazquez on Outfielder and he was just so excited and he got off with a beaming smiling and as we could all see, it was a big run.
'I'm excited to have a really solid horse coming over who should have an excellent chance at heading into the winner's enclosure and we're excited.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
How Jack Draper could land French Open title after 'clinical' Joao Fonseca win
Jack Draper was 'very clinical' in his 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory over Joao Fonseca – and is now has a genuine shot of winning the French Open. The British tennis star has taken his game on clay to another level and next faces Alexander Bublik in the fourth round of singles at Roland-Garros. Traditionally, British players have struggled on the red dirt and not even the legendary Andy Murray was able to land a French Open title in his career. But with no Rafael Nadal to compete with, the path to Roland-Garros glory could be somewhat simpler for world No.5 Draper in Paris. Here's why… Draper was at his very best in his straight-sets victory over Brazilian teenager Fonseca, who is tipped for a massive future in the sport. 'Jack Draper has been flawless,' former American tennis player Ryan Harrison said on commentary duties for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. 'All the pressure [was] on Joao Fonseca since the word go. He [was] trying to change his positioning but it [seemed] like he is searching for answers. 'Draper has been very clinical. I'm so impressed with how Jack Draper [was] using that forehand down the line behind Fonseca.' Draper will be a huge favourite in his next match at Roland-Garros, with the British No.1 set to face Kazakhstan's world No.62 Bublik. The 23-year-old was previously on a collision course with Alex de Minaur but the Australian ninth-seed suffered a shock second-round exit to Bublik. Draper has faced Bublik twice on the ATP Tour to date and won both of their meetings in straight sets, most recently in Adelaide last year. This is where things start to get a little tricky for Draper. If he wins in the fourth round, as expected, he's projected for a quarter-final showdown with Jannik Sinner. Analysis from Metro's dedicated tennis reporter Liam Grace… Draper would surely be incredibly fired up for a quarter-final clash with Sinner at Roland-Garros. The British star would be seeking revenge after Sinner eliminated him in the US Open semi-finals last year – one of the biggest matches of his career to date. While Sinner is the world No.1, Draper would be facing the Italian at a really good time. Sinner has impressed at this year's French Open – but he's only played one event in three months after his temporary ban from the sport. Draper is remarkably fit – so if he is able to take the match into four or five sets – he'd surely have a key advantage over Sinner in Paris. Sinner has previously lost to Draper – at Queen's Club four years ago in their only other meeting – which may give the Brit the confidence he needs to get the job done. Should he battle past Sinner, Draper would then be set for a projectedclash with Novak Djokovic, 38, who despite his huge tally of 24 Grand Slam titles, has not been at his best in 2025 and clay is not his favoured surface. A triumph over Djokovic would set up a possible French Open final against the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who Draper knows how to beat, having won two of their six meetings to date. Draper secured a superb victory over Alcaraz at Indian Wells earlier this year before he went on the land the title at the prestigious tournament. While Alcaraz would be the favourite – and won their most recent meeting in Rome – Draper is capable of beating him if he produces his best tennis. Tennis legend John McEnroe has been left blown away by Draper's performances at the French Open this year and feels he could finish his career with a number of Grand Slam titles. More Trending Speaking after Draper's impressive second-round win over Gael Monfils, McEnroe told TNT Sports: 'I tell you one thing, he won a lot of fans tonight with the way he played. 'It's one of those matches that you're proud to be a tennis player… You see Draper maturing, playing better and better on the spot. 'I mean, I'll be surprised if he doesn't win multiple majors. It is incredible how much he's improving and how great a player he's become.' Former British No.1 Tim Henman added: 'There's no doubt that there are people ahead of him in terms of lists of favourites, but if he keeps playing like that, he is most definitely in the conversation [to win the French Open].' MORE: French Open tennis star 'didn't feel safe' after nasty incident during match MORE: Mark Petchey furious with Emma Raducanu critics: 'Everyone is living in 2021' MORE: Emma Raducanu crashes out of French Open before 'cold' Iga Swiatek handshake
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Balmoral Lady takes Haydock step up in class in her stride
Trained by Ed Walker, the four-year-old filly had made giant strides last season, beginning her progression from a lowly mark of 69 at the Merseyside track in July. Further victories followed at Bath, Windsor and Yarmouth before she was second in a Listed event at Doncaster in November. First time out this season she was a fair third at Chester and sent off at 11-2 here under Paul Mulrennan, she quickened nicely to deny No Half Measures by half a length, despite having the lowest official rating in the field. However, it was not all plain sailing as with a furlong to run Mulrennan was trapped with nowhere to go until Democracy Dilemma edged off the rails – but when the gap came his mount did not need asking twice. 'I was stuck in a pocket, but while I was there I was actually filling her up a bit and I just needed a bit of room and for the gap to come,' said Mulrennan. 'She was brave when it did. She's really got stronger over the winter and she's well worthy of running at that level. 'There's never much between the top handicappers and the Pattern-class sprinters and she's proved that again there. I'm sure there's more big days in her. Fair play to the filly, she was brave there and when she put her nose in she didn't need asking twice.' He added: 'That's my 50th of the year I think, things are going well.' Winning owner Laurence Bellman could be tempted by Royal Ascot should there be enough give in the ground. He said: 'She was injured as a two-year-old, but she's so game. 'We've got her entered in the King Charles III at Royal Ascot. We'd like good ground, the softer the better really. 'As long as the ground is fine Ascot is possible, we'll see what Ed says, he's in charge.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Tadej looks like being sent to Coventry in winning at York
Trained by Archie Watson – who won this race with Bradsell prior to his Coventry Stakes success in 2022 – the Ardad colt was making his third career start. His two runs prior had hinted at more to come, and under Hollie Doyle he started the evens favourite to get off the mark over six furlongs. Drawing on the experience of his past runs he duly delivered, securing a neat neck victory from Ed Walker's Do Or Not Do and thus enter the Coventry market at 25-1 with Paddy Power. 'He is mentally quite immature, but today it fell together nicely and he fought hard,' said Doyle. 'He's a horse who has got plenty of ability, there's a lot under the bonnet, but he's still quite unfurnished. 'The stiff six at Ascot has got to be perfect and he's shown he can handle a big occasion, he's got experience of the track so hopefully he'll run well. We rate him very highly, he was one of our nicest colts and a nice early type. 'We've plenty of others in the pipeline that aren't as forward as him, but as far as the early types go, he was always high on the list.'
