Royal Ascot 2011 - Wesley Ward eyes another American triumph, Trainer uses aggressive tactics
Eclipse Award winning trainer, Wesley Ward, is all set to make his return to the Royal Ascot scheduled for June 14-18, 2011.
He will be running eight horses in the Royal Ascot with seven two year olds, with four of them already wrapping up wins in France, and, England this year.
In 2009, two year old, Strike the Tiger, won the Royal Ascot by winning the Windsor Castle and brought instant fame to Wesley Ward. Immediately after, his two year old filly, Jealous Again, won the Grade 2 Queen Marry Stakes.
Like the saying goes “He came, he saw, he conquered” because coming to England and participating in the most prestigious race and winning twice is an astounding achievement.
Ward read the English and European way of racing and understood the culture, and that helped him to find a kink in their armour.
Usually European juveniles set out of the gates slowly, unlike the American horses, they make impressive breaks and maintain a steady speed to begin with and possibly continue and don’t work themselves to top speed like the British/European horses.
Ward ceased the advantage and used his cards well to create gaps between his horses and the other running to produce big leads.
His breakaway tactics worked perfectly in France as well when his American trained horse won the race. It was the first time that an American trained horse won a title in France. Tic Terrific, the two year old filly, covered a 1000 meter event at Longchamp.
On the very next day Judy the Beauty and Every Day Dave became successful at Chantilly, and it’s safe to say that it was all in the training of Wesley Ward.
Wesley Ward’s presence adds a little more spice to the Royal Ascot, especially when he has established his name by winning races in comprehensive ways. His aggressive tactics add flavour to the race and make it more exciting.
His success in the British and European sector raised questions as to why there is a difference among American bred horses and British/European horses.
The main difference could be that the American horses are bred for speed because the nature of the competition in America calls for fast horses. On the other hand, the same philosophy is not conducive for the British/European horses, maybe because they are
bred to live longer rather than be fast and aggressive.
All in all, the clash of American and European horses is going to be exciting to watch this summer in the Royal Ascot. Will Wesley Ward be triumphant once again, or, will British/European trainers use their home ground advantage?
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