Strong Australian and American Support Among Overseas Entries For Royal Ascot

Dual Australian Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) is one of the leading runners signed on from foreign climbs for the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in June. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the G1 Lightning S. heroine is targeting the G1 King's Stand S.

David Eustace said, “Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning S. and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation.

“We are stepping into the unknown when it comes to international travel but Coolangatta has done a lot of travelling around Australia and is used to being in unfamiliar places. We are hopeful that she will handle that side of things well but you never know until you do it. We think the 1000 metres of the King's Stand, with the uphill finish, looks ideal and genuine fast ground will be to her advantage as well.”

Coolangatta is not the only Australian runner signed on to the royal meeting, as both Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who are trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Leon and Troy Corstens, respectively, are both aiming for the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. Artorius finished third in the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and enters off a victory in the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick earlier this year. In The Astrologist's case, he ran too good to lose when second by a head in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan at the end of March.

Sam Freedman said, “Artorius had his first improving gallop the other day, having come off a bit of a fresh. He seems to be shaping up really well and will have a couple of trials over here before we put him on the plane.

“I think he is definitely hitting Royal Ascot this year in better form than he was 12 months ago.His form lines are strong and I think you guys over there will see a more tactically versatile horse. He will be able to sit a lot closer, which will be important, whereas last year he was rattling home.”

Troy Corstens said, “We were delighted with The Astrologist's effort in Dubai. He ran to expectations and came very close, which gave us the confidence to continue the journey with him.

“He has settled beautifully in Newmarket–he is a very adaptable horse and enjoys the travel. The plan is for him to have a racecourse gallop this week on the Rowley Mile in preparation for the G2 1895 Duke Of York S.

“He will then head to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee. We feel that this will be the perfect race for him. He is a renowned straight-track horse in Australia and we feel the testing course of Ascot will suit him immensely.”

 

Strong American Contingent Ready To Go

Twelve-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer Wesley Ward is bringing a slew of Royal Ascot runners, anchored by Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) and Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) for Stonestreet Stables to Royal Ascot. Both enter off of stakes victories at the recently concluded Keeneland Spring Meet, with the former pointing to the King's Stand S. and the latter eyeing both the King's Stand and the G1 Commonwealth Cup S.

Ward said, “Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming are doing great. They are both coming off nice comeback wins and their owner Barbara Banke [of Stonestreet Stables] is really looking forward to getting them over there. She loves Ascot as much as me and we are all excited.

“I was really happy with Love Reigns in the Limestone S. She had to switch a couple of times in the run but showed a great attitude to get up on the line, while Twilight Gleaming showed a lot of speed in her comeback race.

“Twilight Gleaming will definitely go for the King's Stand S., whereas Love Reigns will have an entry there and in the Commonwealth Cup.”

Besides Ward's older horses, he has at least three juveniles making the trip for the storied 2-year-old prizes in 'TDN Rising Star' American Rascal (Curlin) out of King's Stand and G2 Queen Mary S. victress Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy); Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and Bledsoe (Igbaal).

Ward added, “American Rascal has come out of his first race in super shape. The team at Stonestreet really liked him and it was exciting to see him produce a performance like that.

“Fandom looks another good prospect after his debut win on the grass and we also have some nice 2-year-olds to run at Belmont, so we will see what else unfolds in the coming days.

“Bledsoe has already travelled over to England and will run in a novice race at Ascot on 13 May. He won America's first 2-year-old race of the year on the dirt at Keeneland but his mother Shrinking Violet was a multiple stakes winner of the turf, so we are looking forward to getting him on the grass.”

Brad Cox's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast) is pencilled in to make the trip, and GI Belmont Derby victor Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) for trainer Ken McPeek is a potential starter in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S.

McPeek said, “Classic Causeway had a nice run first time up this year on the dirt at Oaklawn. Then we came back for the [GII] Oaklawn H. and he was off the board, so we have decided to switch back to the turf.

“He is going for a prep race in Kentucky on 3 June in the Arlington S. and, if he runs well there, we will point him towards the Prince Of Wales's S.”

New York Thunder (Nyquist) for trainer Jorge Delgado holds a Commonwealth Cup entry, while Hong Kong runner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard) has been nominated for both the Platinum Jubilee and King's Stand.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are very pleased to see entries for Royal Ascot 2023 from across the world including Group 1 winners from Britain, Ireland, France, the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

“It is particularly exciting to see so many strong entries from Australia, including the Black Caviar Lightning S. winner Coolangatta, who looks set to try and follow Nature Strip's victory in the King's Stand S. It's also exciting to see Artorius is on track to try and go two better than when third in the Platinum Jubilee S. last year.

“Wesley Ward again has a strong team headed by Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming along with the 2-year-olds while it will also be great to see Breeders' Cup winner Caravel represent America.”

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Ward Outlines Team Plans

Stonestreet Stables' Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) breezed a half-mile in :48.66 seconds Friday over the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing S. Aug. 21 at Saratoga. Trained by Wesley Ward graduated by 9 3/4-lengths in her April debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over the Keeneland turf ahead of a close fourth last out in the G2 Queen Mary S. June 15 at Royal Ascot. Love Reigns lost some time after the Queen Mary due to illness but has now breezed four times over the Oklahoma training turf.

“She's doing great,” Ward said. “She's had no hiccups since Ascot and we're looking forward to getting her back. She's been up at Saratoga and had several breezes on the grass, including today, and she's ready to go.”

Stablemate No Kay Never (No Nay Never), also owned by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, is nominated to both the Bolton Landing and the Aug. 19 Skidmore S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint against the boys. No Kay Never was an impressive maiden winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis May 30, but Ward said he may try to separate the fillies.

“We'll look at both races. She'll breeze Sunday on the grass,” Ward said. “Barbara owns them both. We may go against the boys. We'll have a little further discussion.”

Lael Stables' MGSW Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) and Hat Creek Racing's Illegal Smile (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) also worked five-eighths in 1:00.94 Friday over the Oklahoma training turf. Arrest Me Red is targeting the GII Turf Sprint Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs, while Illegal Smile is pointed to the Aug. 20 Smart N Fancy S. at Saratoga. Arrest Me Red, winner of last year's GIII Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational and GII Turf Sprint in May, was a close second last out in the GI Jaipur S. at Belmont June 11.

“He got a beautiful trip following us around there and then it kind of parted where he got a ground saving trip and got out. He was the best horse on the day,” Ward said.

Ward indicated Andrew Farm and For the People Racing's No Nay Hudson (No Nay Never) will make his turf debut in the Skidmore. The $190,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase graduated on debut in April in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland prior to a fourth-place effort in Belmont's Tremont S. in June.

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Ortiz Hit With 5-Day Careless Riding Ban at Royal Ascot

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Was handed a five-day suspension Wednesday by the Royal Ascot stewards for his ride aboard Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) in the GII Queen Mary S. earlier in the day. According to the Ascot Stewards' Report posted on the British Horseracing Authority's website, Ortiz allowed his mount “to drift left-handed without sufficient correction.” The incident occurred a sixteenth of a mile into the race when Ortiz allowed the Wesley Ward-trained filly to drift, impeding three others.  The stewards' report noted that Omniqueen (GB) (Tasleet) {GB}) got the worst of it and that her jockey Leigh Francis Roche was nearly unseated.

Ortiz is set to serve the days from June 29 to July 3. Barring a successful appeal, the suspension could keep him from riding Life Is Good in the July 3 GII John A. Nerud S. Love Reigns finished fourth. It's been a tough two days at Royal Ascot for Ortiz when Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) broke poorly in the G1 King's Stand S. before finishing last. Afterward, Ortiz revealed he was looking at the withdrawn Mondammej (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) when the gates opened.

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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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