US trainer Wesley Ward has become synonymous with Royal Ascot over the last decade and more and he will be hoping to add to his dozen-strong tally of winners come the 2024 meeting.
Ward's forte is in masterminding the path of prodigious sprinters and he appears to have a ready-made Norfolk Stakes contender in the form of American Rascal.
Living up to the family name
Being the first foal from the brilliant Lady Aurelia carried a healthy amount of pressure for American Rascal before he ever set foot on the racecourse.
He coped admirably with those expectations at Keeneland in late April, romping home by more than 10-lengths in just over 51 seconds for the 4½-furlongs on the dirt under Joel Rosario.
The time was the fastest of the meet for the distance covered. Ward typically suggested his colt 'can be better next time' he sets foot on a racetrack and that 'next time' looks very likely to be at Royal Ascot in June, where the Norfolk Stakes is a target sure to be glistening in the British sunshine.
Ward has won the Norfolk twice with No Nay Never in 2013 and Shang Shang Shangin 2018.
In Lady Aurelia's debut in April 2016 – also at Keeneland – she won by 7½ lengths and in a then track-record time of 50.85 for the 4½ furlong distance.
Lady Aurelia a Royal Ascot standout for Ward
Mention the name of Wesley Ward to most Royal Ascot followers and the horse that comes to mind immediately is Lady Aurelia.
As a juvenile she lined up in the Queen Mary Stakes and routed the field to come home seven-lengths ahead of her nearest rival under Frankie Dettori in one of the most spell-binding speed displays witnessed this century.
She came back in 2017 and mixed it in open Group 1 company when winning the King's Stand Stakes – while that same summer was agonisingly denied in the Nunthorpe at York by Sir Mark Prescott's Marsha in a race that sparked the famous "Frankie thinks he's won…I'm not so sure" line from commentator Richard Hoiles as they crossed the line with Dettori's arm aloft.
Lady Aurelia was back at Royal Ascot in 2018 but could only finish seventh in the King's Stand as Blue Point and Battaash fought out the finish and that proved to be her final outing.
Ward will be back for more in 2024
Dating back to Strike The Tiger's victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes in 2009, Ward has won 12 races at Royal Ascot in total.
They include four wins in the Queen Mary with the likes of Jealous Again (2009), Acapulco (2015) and Campanelle (2020) alongside Lady Aurelia as well as a Diamond Jubilee win in 2015 with Undrafted and Commonwealth Cup glory in 2021 via Campanelle.
Like Lady Aurelia and Campanelle before him, American Rascal sported the yellow and red silks of Stonestreet Stables when he made his Ascot bow.
Sent off a 4/1 chance when ponied to post, he raced in the far side group which was the place to be so he had no draw excuses on the day.
American Rascal didn't get to the front but he chased the leaders early and was pushed along quite soon. He hung right and weakened badly, finishing 13th of the 14 runners for a finish.
Since then, he disappointed at long odds-on in a claiming race at Churchill Downs in September. It is fair to say American Rascal has been bitterly disappointing for connections.
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