Campanelle (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ward and Ortiz Team Up at Royal Ascot

The well-established team of Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz Jr. will joins forces for the upcoming Royal meeting, which begins June 14. Ward, who became the first American-based trainer to saddle a winner at the Royal Ascot in 2009, confirmed that Ortiz will partner all five of his contenders next week. A three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey in the U.S., the Puerto Rican native will be making is debut at the meet.

“He's won all over in America and he's just a phenomenal rider who rides with extreme patience,” explained Ward. “He's the man of the moment here in the States, that's for sure. He's put a lot of work in for me early in the mornings and he's so excited to get over to Ascot.”

Among Ward's chief Royal Ascot aspirants, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), winner of a pair of Breeders' Cup events sprinting over the turf the past two seasons, is slated to contest the G1 King's Stand S. June 14. In his only prior start this season, he won the 5 1/2-furlong GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland Apr. 9.

Also making the trans-Atlantic sojourn is Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), victorious in the 2020 G2 Queen Mary S. before claiming a win in last season's G1 Commonwealth S. via the steward's room. The 4-year-old, who most recently won Keeneland's Giant's Causeway S. Apr. 16, will try to record the hat-trick in the June 18 G1 Platinum Jubilee S. Working in tandem with GI Madison S. scorer Kimari, the Stonestreet runner recorded a recent five-furlong work in 1:00.40 at Keeneland June 5.

“My work rider, Julio Garcia, has been with me for the last 16 years..He rode Campanelle, she broke behind Kimari and he tracked her all the way over five furlongs,” he said. “He eased out with a furlong to go and it almost looked like Kimari was going to keep rolling on and visually watching I was thinking 'uh oh, maybe Campanelle doesn't have it'.

He continued, “Then all of a sudden Julio moved his knuckles just a shade and within three strides Campanelle made up three lengths–she responded like a lion getting to an antelope. It was exactly what we wanted to see. The whole team had smiles on their faces after watching that, which was great to see.”

Ward will also saddle SW Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) (Palace of Holywoodhouse S. June 17), Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) (Queen Mary S. June 15) and maiden Seismic Spirit (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) (Windsor Castle S. June 15).

“[Love Reigns] had about the best debut race I've ever had at Keeneland [Apr. 29]–she won by almost 10 lengths and just scampered away from them,” said Ward of Love Reign. “She has had three or four pieces of work since then, and all of them have been nice and steady and beautiful breezes. Every horse that kind of engaged her, she just exploded away from them.”

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Ward Says Royal Ascot Contingent His Best Ever

Since he won his first ever race at Royal Ascot in 2009, trainer Wesley Ward has attacked the meeting with quantity and quality and the result has been 12 wins. But he says this year's group, which will consist of at least seven horses, is the best he has ever sent overseas for what is the U.K.'s premier race meeting.

“I have never been as strong as this,” he said.

The surprise is that Ward's group of 2-year-olds, usually his strong suit, is not deep. He only has two, 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) and No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never), that are definitely headed there.

“In years past at Belmont, they always ran those early maiden 2-year-old races on the turf,” he said. “They always went. If I won one of those races, I'd send those horses over there. This year, it's unfortunate that, for whatever reason, none of those races went. A lot of people are giving me turf sprinters. They're not the same horses on dirt and I'm reluctant to start them on the dirt. I've been waiting for grass races. There have only been two 2-year-old races run on grass in North America so far this year, both at Keeneland. People are buying horses for me to try to get them to Royal Ascot, but you can't go if you don't get them a start beforehand.”

Ward is hoping to find turf maidens for some of his 2-year-olds within the next 10 days or so and said that could lead to additions to his team.

Here's a look at who Ward plans on sending to Royal Ascot:

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo): Ward has said that this is the best horse he has ever trained and Golden Pal has the record to back that up. He is six-for-nine lifetime and has won the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He is expected to be the favourite in the G1 King's Stand S. on Tuesday, June 14.

“This is a big one for him,” Ward said. “He was second there as a 2-year-old in the [G2] Norfolk [S.] and was unlucky to be beaten. I am going back this year and he has never been better in his life. He is my most likely winner.”

Love Reigns: The 2-year-old filly is scheduled to run in the G2 Queen Mary S. on Wednesday, June 15. She broke her maiden on Apr. 29 at Keeneland, winning a 5 1/2-furlong grass race by 9 3/4 lengths.

No Nay Hudson; The 2-year-old colt will run in the Windsor Castle S. also on June 15. He won a 4 1/2-furlong dirt maiden at Keeneland by four lengths.

Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}): Is a new addition to the Ward barn after being campaigned in the U.K. by trainer Alan King. The 3-year-old has not started since Sept. 25. His biggest win came in the G2 Richmond S. He will go in the June 17 G1 Commonwealth Cup.

“It took a little while to get him going and figure him out,” Ward said. “He wasn't working very well when we first started breezing him. He started doing better, but not as good as you'd expect from what his form showed. These last couple of workouts were great. Really, really good. He outworked a really good horse of mine, Outadore, and did it very nicely. I am looking for him to run a good race.”

'TDN Rising Star' Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}): The now 3-year-old warmed up for Ascot with a win in the Apr. 15 Limestone S. at Keeneland. She is slated to take on males in the June 17 Palace of Holyroodhouse S. at five furlongs. She finished seventh last year at Ascot in the Windsor Castle S.

Her World (Ire) (Caravaggio): Another filly, she will also run in the Palace of Holyroodhouse S, but has had only two career starts, including a third-place finish in the Limestone.

Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}): The filly will be seeking her third win at Royal Ascot when she starts in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. on Saturday, June 18. She won the G1 Commonwealth Cup there last year and the G2 Queen Mary S. the year before. She also captured the Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland in her Royal Ascot prep.

“She ran a big race here at Keeneland in her comeback,” Ward said. “She thrives here at Keeneland and every work has been great. I look forward to a big run from her. But this will be her toughest assignment over there yet because she'll be taking on older horses. She's a big powerful mare. She's strong and imposing. I think she will run a big race.”

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Starman Heads Maurice de Gheest Cast

Deauville stages the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday, where David Ward's G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) has to tackle testing ground as he bids to put his marker down on the sprinting division. Beaten only once when encountering soft going in Ascot's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S., the 4-year-old nevertheless carries significant stable confidence into the 6 1/2-furlong highlight.

“He's in cracking form and we're super excited, so fingers crossed,” trainer Ed Walker said. “Everything has gone very well since the July Cup. On his last piece of work, I think he's improving, dare I say it.”

Wesley Ward is already off the mark at the meeting with Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and it is another Stonestreet Stables representative who offers stern opposition to the British talisman in Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was awarded the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time June 18.

“She's there and in good shape and Frankie (Dettori) is riding, so there are no worries,” said Ward. “I think there are a lot of showers around and that is going to suit Campanelle just fine.”

Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) stays further than this and showed last time when winning Goodwood's G2 Lennox July 27 that he handles the soft. That is not so much the case with Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was runner-up to Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat here.

“The better the ground, the better his chance,” trainer Joseph O'Brien commented. “We were thrilled to see Thunder Moon get back on track in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last time, as his first two runs of the season had been very disappointing. The drop in trip seemed to help him and he was only just touched off by Laws of Indices. This even shorter trip should be fine for him and the less testing ground will definitely be in his favour, as we considered taking him out of the Prix Jean Prat on account of the softening ground.”

There are only three home-trained runners and the pick seems to be Jean-Claude Seroul's winning machine Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Having won the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp May 30 and July 1, the homebred switches to a straight track but trainer Jerome Reynier is happy it will not hinder his chances.

“He has won seven in a row and was tried over a straight course back in April at Chantilly and handled it well,” he explained. “Six and a half furlongs is a bit of a long trip for the sprinters, but he has won over seven and I think he's got a good chance. This is the logical next step and we're looking forward to it. It's a pretty good race and it will be good to try him against this sort of opposition. If we can step up onto the podium, we will be delighted.”

At The Curragh, the G1 the Keeneland Phoenix S. sees the June 26 G2 Railway S. first, second and fourth Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) renew rivalry. The former, who was previously second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot June 17, has to do it on softer ground this time but trainer David Loughnane is not overly concerned.

“With the weather forecast, the ground is probably going to be a bit softer than we would like it to be but he has won on soft ground previously so provided he turns up and gets out of bed on the right side, I think he should take all the beating,” he said. “On paper, we certainly look the one to beat but there's every chance something else in the race could have taken a big step forward since the Railway. We're going there confident, but we're well aware Group 1s are not easily won.”

Fozzy Stack is happy to re-engage with Craig Bernick and Antony Beck's May 22 G3 Marble Hill S. winner Castle Star and is hoping the predicted change in conditions might level the playing ground. “He obviously handled slower ground and it might upset one or two of the others, so I wouldn't mind a drop of rain,” he said. Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Dr Zempf was the most in need of the experience in the Railway and should have improved for the run, while Aidan O'Brien who has won this a record 16 times has the filly Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) as his main challenger but she needs to fare better than when fourth in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown July 22.

The third Group 1 of the day comes at Hoppegarten, with the Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin attracting Kirsten Rausing's July 3 G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Godolphin's Mar. 6 G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as they encounter the July 4 G1 Deutsches Derby third Imi (Ger) (Tertullian). Back at Deauville, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the star act in the 12 1/2-furlong G3 OSAF Prix de Reux as he looks to get his 4-year-old campaign on track and extend Aidan O'Brien's stellar record in France in 2021.

Click here for the group fields.

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Campanelle Awarded The Commonwealth Cup As Dragon Symbol Demoted

Royal Ascot 2021 cannot be accused of lacking melodrama, especially in the 24 hours from Thursday's Gold Cup to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup, with the monstrous monsoon and grim skies the backdrop for an epic renewal of the meeting's premier 3-year-old sprint. As the TDN Rising Stars Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) drove past the post, it was the former who was announced the winner by a head but after an agonising spell for connections of the transatlantic duo the stewards duly reversed the placings to end Wesley Ward's drought. With the final 1 1/2 furlongs constantly re-run from every angle on the screens following the inspiring duel between two such talented sprinters, the rightward drift of Archie Watson's flagbearer was considered the crucial factor in the outcome. Campanelle, who was so strong on the front from the outset under Frankie Dettori, was bumped and rubbed up by Dragon Symbol as the line approached and her rider felt he had received justice. “I feel sorry for connections of the runner-up, but in these conditions when you get carried across eight lanes, get nudged three times, lose momentum and get beaten a head, I had reason to believe that my filly was best on the day,” he said of the 5-1 shot. “I was coming back at the line and so the stewards gave me the benefit of the doubt. It was a good effort by both horses, but I'm glad that we've got it.” Whatever the decision of the powers that be, this will also be remembered as a demonstration of dominance from the front pair, who were five lengths clear of Measure of Magic (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in third with some classy contemporaries spaced out behind.

This renewal suffered from high-profile withdrawals such as the G2 Richmond S. and G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), his promising stablemate Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence) and the high-class Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), but what it lost in cast members it more than made up for in terms of excitement. As Dragon Symbol surged by the Stonestreet colour-bearer passing two out, it looked momentarily as if he would comfortably take her measure but as far as last year's G1 Prix Morny and G2 Queen Mary S. heroine was concerned it was merely game on. Leaving George Strawbridge's unbeaten 9-4 favourite Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and the rest behind as they drove on together, Yoshiro Kubota's grey lugged right and although Murphy initially had his whip in the correct hand his switch to his left meant that it would be tougher for him to keep the prize. Campanelle was in front again nearing the line, but when straightened up Dragon Symbol managed to thrust his head back up where it mattered.

Murphy deserves credit for his handling of the inquiry's outcome and said, “I am disappointed for the connections of Dragon Symbol. There was a massive Japanese interest, he finished the race in front, but it wasn't meant to be,” he said. “I went into the stewards' room, I told them I was on the best horse, Frankie said I was on the best horse, but it didn't go my way.”

Wesley Ward, whose juvenile brigade had missed their respective targets one after another throughout the week, was a relieved man. “We are elated. Both horses ran fantastic, they dug down deep and they were only inches apart,” he said. “I think it was a validated result–in the United States terms, he has taken her across the track. Archie Watson shook my hand after the enquiry, a true gentleman. This was Campanelle's first run since the Breeders' Cup. It was a gritty performance on heavy ground and, to come back from that, it is a true testament of how good this filly is. We weren't sure about heavy ground, but we knew she liked soft ground.”

“Winning at Royal Ascot is so special, especially with my children here from the onset in 2009, it has been so special,” Ward continued. “To have Campanelle ponied down by my first winner Strike the Tiger too means a lot. Royal Ascot has changed my life. If it wasn't for Royal Ascot, my kids would be going to community college and instead my eldest son is going to law school in August. We'll sit down with the owners. Campanelle worked well on the July Course, but the [G1] July Cup [at Newmarket July 10] could come a bit quick. I have run horses in the [Aug. 8 G1] Prix Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville] in the past and I think she'll do well whatever ground comes on the day. I think it would suit. Campanelle is going up the pecking order. Lady Aurelia was very special, but if she keeps delivering, she'll keep going up.”

Watson had said before the inquiry's outcome was announced, “He's run a huge race and he's an incredibly tough horse–we came here knowing that although he handled the ground at Haydock he wouldn't be in love with it. For a team like us, even though we are a fair-sized yard, to compete with the big stables on a stage like this means a lot. He's always been very talented and was still a big baby and unfurnished last year, so we gave him plenty of time and he's come right and improved from run to run. He's a pleasure at home and the team have done a fantastic job with him. Just to have a horse of this quality is massive and we've still got a very good horse on our hands.”

Campanelle is the last known foal out of the Listed Marygate S. winner Janina (GB) (Namid {GB}), who was the leading performer out of the G3 World Trophy scorer Lady Dominatrix (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The latter is also the second dam of the recent Listed Scurry S. runner-up Warrior Brave (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) who later disappointed when down the field in the card's closing Palace of Holyroodhouse H. This is also the family of the G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Demure (Ire) (Shy Groom).

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COMMONWEALTH CUP-G1, £350,000, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, 6fT, 1:16.67, hy.
1–CAMPANELLE (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Janina (GB) (SW-Eng), by Namid (GB)
2nd Dam: Lady Dominatrix (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Spout House (Ire), by Flash of Steel (Ire)
(190,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Wesley Ward; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £75,250. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur & G1SW-Fr, 5-4-0-0, $374,478. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
*2–Dragon Symbol (GB), 126, c, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Arcamist (GB), by Arcano (Ire). (67,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT). O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. £198,485.
3–Measure of Magic (Ire), 123, f, 3, Kodi Bear (Ire)–Lilly Be (Ire), by Titus Livius (Fr). (€9,500 Ylg '19 GOAUTY). O-JP Murtagh Racing; B-Mr & Mrs Reddy Coffey (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. £37,660.
Margins: (HD, 5, HF). Odds: 5.00, 4.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Dandalla (Ire), Laws of Indices (Ire), Mooneista (Ire), The Lir Jet (Ire), Suesa (Ire), Isabella Giles (Ire), Happy Romance (Ire), A Case of You (Ire), Jumby (Ire), Mighty Gurkha (Ire), Lipizzaner, Fivethousandtoone (Ire). Scratched: Diligent Harry (GB), Method (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Supremacy (Ire), Miss Amulet (Ire), Sacred (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
*Demoted from first.

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