Ascot Not Newmarket For Ward Pair

Tuesday, 21 April 2015 08:09

American trainer Wesley Ward will aim Hootenanny and Sunset Glow at Royal Ascot after scratching the pair from the 2000 and 1000 Guineas respectively.

Both horses could now take their chance in the Commonwealth Cup, the new Group One sprint at the big June meeting.

Hootenanny was an impressive winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes last summer while Sunset Glow was second to subsequent Group One winner Cursory Glance in the Albany Stakes.

The two were in action recently with Hootenanny an easy winner over five and a half furlongs (1100m) at Keeneland on Saturday while Sunset Glow was third in a Grade Three over a mile (1600m) on the same course a week earlier.

"It's just the races at Newmarket are a bit too close to their last run. I like to give my horses some time between starts," Ward said.

"If Sunset Glow had won her race, then the Guineas would have been something we'd look at but unfortunately she got beat.

"For Hootenanny I've been looking at 30 days from race to race or train him straight for the Commonwealth Cup, the new Group One.

"I think he's going to want to go further, but the way he ran at Ascot last year and on Saturday he's going to be a demon going shorter.

"He loves the course so we're trying to go on the same lines.

"I've got Sunset Glow nominated as well for the Commonwealth. The owner is very keen to get to Ascot."