Wesley Ward is set to bring another strong squad to Royal Ascot and has been extremely bullish about the chances of his star sprinter Golden Pal.
This year's King's Stand Stakes has an international flavour, with representatives from the US, Australia, France and the Czech Republic, but Ward's speedball Golden Pal is priced at 7/4.
Golden Pal in fine form
Ward's son of Uncle Mo ended last season by winning the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar and looked better than ever on return, outpacing his rivals throughout in the Shakertown Stakes.
The four-year-old was seen at Royal Ascot when he was a juvenile, finishing a neck second in the Norfolk Stakes, but Ward's comments suggest he could be difficult to peg back two years on.
"I'm so excited for this horse I can't even tell you," Ward said. "He's the best I've ever brought to Ascot in all these years, and I've brought some good ones, but this guy is the fastest of the fast. He's certainly the fastest I've ever had.
"He's really matured from last year to this. Mentally and physically he's gotten bigger and stronger, as any horse would from three to four, but he's just a pure athlete and this is his year."
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Ward looking to land again
Wesley Ward has history with the King's Stand, having won the race in 2017 with Lady Aurelia. Campanelle, who won the 2020 Queen Mary Stakes in those colours, is also reported in good form and has several options to aim at.
Ward added: "She's certainly a great sportswoman and she's come back and she's flourished for her time down in Florida. Since she got back, one work after another has been fantastic and she won brilliantly [at Keeneland in April], it was beautiful."
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