Wesley Ward absent from Royal Ascot this year
Hugely impressive on his Churchill Downs debut, the Speightstown colt looked a major contender for the Norfolk Stakes but will not be making the trip across the Atlantic.
Ward said: 'He had a a nice breeze yesterday (Tuesday) on the grass here in Keeneland and unfortunately he came out with just a hair of a shin (problem), which 90 per cent of all two-year-olds get and it's just unfortunate it's right on the heels of Ascot.
'We're here and not over there though, that's one good thing. He didn't have to leave Keeneland, so that was good.'
Outfielder debuts the best for trainer Wesley Ward and @ljlmvel! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/c656fyxzr3
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 23, 2025
Part-owned by Amo Racing, Outfielder could still be seen in action on European soil this summer, with August's Prix Morny at Deauville – a Group One Ward has previously won with No Nay Never (2013), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020) – under consideration.
'Our original plan was to go for the Norfolk and then the Prix Morny, so we'll just train him into the Morny if all goes to plan,' the trainer added.
Few in Europe had heard of Washington-born Ward when he first came to Ascot in 2009, but it did not take him long to make a big impression, with Strike The Tiger becoming the first American-trained horse to win at the Royal meeting when landing the Windsor Castle Stakes.
The very next day Ward was on the mark again with Jealous Again in the Queen Mary and he has sent horses to Berkshire in all but one of the subsequent 14 years, amassing a dozen winners in the process.
The ebullient handler will be conspicuous by his absence in 2025, but he is not too downbeat.
'I'll still enjoy watching it here, that's for sure,' he said.
'This was the 16th year we were getting ready to go over there. My eldest son Riley has been going every year since I started and he's got all these friends that he's met that go back and forward between American and the the UK, so he's the one that's gutted the most out of the whole family.
'Outfielder was obviously meant to be making the trip and we had another couple lined up and had some breezes on Monday, but while the breezes were good they weren't Royal Ascot-winning good.
'You know me, I'm pretty positive and excited, but if I'm not thinking they've got big chances when it's a lot of money to go over there for the owners… I want to make sure at least going into it that you think you have a winner.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
If Greg Taylor leaves Celtic for PAOK he can expect broken windows, riot police and tear gas
Mark Kerr is one of only a handful of Scots to play in Greece and while it's not for the faint hearted, he couldn't get enough Seething supporters trying to storm the inner sanctum of the stadium.. crazy ultras panning in the windows.. riot police filling the night sky with tear gas. Mark Kerr saw all sorts of chaos during his two seasons playing in the Greek Super League. And he LOVED it. The former Aberdeen, Falkirk and Dundee United midfielder is one of just a handful of Scots to have plied their trade in the country originally known as Hellas. But now it looks like Greg Taylor is set to add his name to the list with a move to PAOK edging closer after six seasons at Celtic. And while Kerr admits surprise that anyone could leave Paradise when there's a new contract on the table, he reckons a stint in the league that can made the Old Firm derby look tame is no bad substitute. Kerr spent 18 months with Asteris Tripolis after leaving Aberdeen in 2010. He fell in love with the place, the peaceful Mediterranean culture.. and the madness of it's football. Kerr said: 'I really enjoyed my time in Greece, absolutely loved it. 'The football is a really high standard. Olympiacos have obviously won a European trophy recently, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos have done well and PAOK are always up there challenging. 'The quality, it's really quite a tactical game, a bit slower. I think Greg would be brilliant over there, to be honest. 'Just the way he plays, he's good in the ball. There's some really good players in that league. 'It is a bit of a culture shock at first, the stadiums and atmospheres. PAOK is one of the older style stadiums with an open roof. One of those tunnels you go down then up stairs onto the pitch. 'It was really impressive. The fans are amazing. Passionate beyond belief. 'I remember we drew 2-2 with AEK. We were 2-0 up in the Olympic Stadium - they were sharing with Olympiacos at the time - with about five minutes ago. 'Their fans were going absolutely mental. They were trying to get on the pitch because their team was losing. 'Then we beat Panathinaikos 1-0 at home. That was probably the craziest one. 'The away fans were putting in the windows afterwards. There's armed police at all the games and there was tear gas going off everywhere. 'We were inside the stadium and they were trying to get in through the doors, putting in the windows. 'Obviously you don't expect that coming from Scottish football. I loved that though, honestly. It's a good experience. 'It's not as if you're face-to-face with them. There's riot cops there. 'Some of the directors storm on to the pitch after games too. Like the Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis did last month. That's just normal to them. 'We used to get the bosses coming down the next day and shouting in our face and the manager's face. 'They'd be offering big bonuses. But if we didn't win… "They don't give a sh*t. It's their club. I had five different managers in those two seasons.' Away from the wild scenes on the sidelines there was quality on the park. And the sunshine lifestyle was something Kerr could never have imagined in a career otherwise spent in Aberdeen, Dundee, Falkirk and Ayr. Should Taylor finalise his move to Thessaloniki then he can expect sun, blue sea and golden sand. But Kerr admits, if it was his choice, he'd still choose the east end of Glasgow's version of Paradise. Could Greece make Taylor a better player? The former Ayr United boss, who left Kelty Hearts with Charlie Mulgrew earlier this season, said: 'That's a hard one for me to answer. I know Kieran Tierney's coming back and it's maybe about game time, but I'd never be leaving Celtic! 'There's obviously things in the background that you don't know about. I just don't know how you get better than playing for Celtic and in the Champions League. 'He's got a decision to make for his family, obviously. He's been brilliant for Celtic, absolutely brilliant. 'I think he'd be a massive part of next season. If he does go to Greece though, he will love it, I'm sure. 'The country's brilliant. The lifestyle's great. I was treated really well there. 'You travel quite a bit. They fly to the islands so it's a good experience. 'And Thessaloniki is a really nice place. I was there when Aris and PAOK were both in the league so we were there a good few times. 'We stayed over for two days. We'd fly on a Friday, play late on Saturday night then either fly home that night or fly home on Sunday. You got a chance to see places. 'I moved to a wee place called Nafplio in my second season, an amazing wee place just on the sea, I'd just go back after training and chill out with the family. It was brilliant. 'It's a great league too. The boys I played with, like Anastasios Bakasetas and Kostas Fortounis, went on to become captains for Greece. 'The heat isn't even a problem as you don't train or play in it. We used to be in the training ground for half six in the morning. 'Asteris was probably the most high-tech club of my career. You'd be in early and get your bloods done. You'd be getting all your tablets and stuff based on your body. 'On a normal day, you'd be in at half seven, train at half eight. Then you'd be done for ten o'clock, eleven o'clock. 'That would be you. All the games over there are pretty much eight o'clock kick-offs. Then obviously the winter months you'll get your afternoon games. Maybe a four o'clock kick-off, three o'clock kick-off. 'Honestly, I loved it and I'm sure Greg would too.'
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Craig Gordon hopes Derek McInnes can recreate Burleyball as Hearts veteran reveals what players are really thinking
New Tynecastle boss has already name checked Burley's Jambos and Gordon reckons that side felt like they would win every time Craig Gordon hopes Derek McInnes can bring Burley-ball back to Gorgie and have Hearts feeling invincible again. The veteran goalkeeper was a key man in George Burley's side that stormed clear at the top of the table after an eight-game winning run to start the 2005-06 season. But the manager was controversially sacked by madcap owner Vladimir Romanov after 10 games and while still unbeaten. McInnes was appointed as Hearts new manager last month and admitted playing for Dundee United against the power of Burley's team 20 years ago 'hit you between the eyes pretty quickly'. And Gordon hopes he can recreate that in the new season. He said: 'Absolutely. I can't wait if he can because that was an unbelievable team to play in. The power of that team, the speed that they played at. 'If we can get anywhere near that in terms of intensity from our team, then I think the fans will really buy into that and we'll have a very good season. It'll be a real difficult place for anybody to come. 'At Celtic during the Invincible season I felt that we'd line up and we just knew we were going to win the matches. I think that George Burley team was similar. 'Everybody trusted each other and we knew that we had quality all over the pitch. It was just a matter of time before we'd score goals. I think everybody knew their role really well. 'If we can get back to that and be an intimidating team here, especially with a crowd on our side, it's going to be a really good season.' Hearts missed out on a top six finish last season after a loss of form under Neil Critchley saw the goals dry up and the tempo disappear from their game. Backed by Tony Bloom's investment, the Jambos have already added Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek wide man Alexandros Kyziridis and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee. And asked if he expected a drastic change of style under McInnes, Gordon said: 'They're bringing in some new players as well, so I think it's something that he's looking to try and implement. 'It's up to the players to do what the manager wants them to do. I"'ve already spoken to all the players on the phone, it does feel like everybody's getting quite excited about getting back to start again. 'That's the feeling that can really drive the team on and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this year.' Meanwhile, Gordon admits he thought last season would be his last after Hearts' horror start to the campaign. The Jambos went 11 games without a win in all competitions - a run that saw Steven Naismith sacked - and Gordon admits he questioned his own future. He said: 'During the European run, when there were so many games in the first part of the season, it was hard for everybody. 'Results weren't going particularly well. 'It wasn't a great place to be when things are not going well. So, yes, there were points where I thought that would probably be the last season. 'It wouldn't have been a good way to go out. I think as the season progressed, I started to feel a bit better. 'I think there's a lot more positive signs going into this season now with everything that's happening, new players that are coming in, new management teams. 'So, yes, I think there's a lot to look forward to.'
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He goes on any ground and Richard Kingscote is a good booking' – Templegate's Sunday NAP
TEMPLEGATE takes on Sunday's racing confident of hitting form just in time for Royal Ascot. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. CRIMSON SPIRIT (5.00 Salisbury, nap) This four-year-old ran a cracker when third in a big field at York last time out. That was an excellent effort after nine months off and confirmed his liking for this trip. He goes on any ground and Richard Kingscote is a good booking for the in-form Kubler training team. NOVAMAY (5.37 Doncaster, nb) Can end a frustrating run of seconds with his first win. He has done little wrong so far and was right there again at Catterick last time. The first-time cheekpieces can help him to get home. ZAPPHIRE (5.45 Hamilton, treble) Finished strongly to score over a mile at Carlisle last time. That's a stamina-sapping track so this extra two furlongs should be ideal. SUNNY CORNER (3.23 Salisbury, Lucky 15) He was a good third on the all-weather at Kempton last time but is at home on turf too. He's slipped to just above the mark of his Newbury win last summer. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
