Threat of Wet Weather Derails Golden Pal Nunthorpe Bid
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Golden Pal (center) is collared late by The Lir Jet (left) in the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
COVID-19-related travel, quarantine, and prize-money have all featured as reasons for trainers to change their running plans in recent weeks, but it is the British weather that means Norfolk Stakes (G2) runner-up Golden Pal will miss the Aug. 21 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York, with trainer Wesley Ward electing to keep the juvenile in the United States for an alternative engagement on the same day.
As a 2-year-old Golden Pal was set to carry 24 pounds less than red-hot favorite Battaash and had been trading at a general 8-1 to dethrone the reigning champion.
But Ward will now run Golden Pal at Saratoga Race Course in the $85,000 Skidmore Stakes for juveniles, a race in which he is responsible for three of the six runners.
Speaking to the Racing Post Aug. 16 Ward admitted he had been really keen to take on Battaash and company with the son of Uncle Mo , but the threat of soft ground had ultimately swayed him towards staying at home.
"We were watching the weather pretty closely," said Ward. "As dry as the summer has been it looks like there's been quite a bit of rain. I'm a little guarded as to my Ascot winners in terms of which ones I bring over to York for the Nunthorpe.
"This one I was really excited about bringing because he's a bigger colt with a lot of speed. With that weight break, if you can bounce out and utilize that 24 pounds, I felt that was something that would help him kick on in the final stages, take all that speed, and hopefully win.
"But when you get a little bit of a boggy ground it kind of goes against you in that way. That was more so the thinking. We're really excited about him, not only for the rest of this year but for next year as well."
Ward still hopes to make a splash on Aug. 23 with Queen Mary Stakes (G2) heroine Campanelle, who will be the mount of Frankie Dettori in the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville.
A stormy few days in Normandy has left its mark on track conditions but Ward is less concerned should it come up at the weekend.
"With this filly I'm not as worried about it as she's proven on it," the trainer added. "She's worked well on it and ran well at Ascot on a little bit of a soft surface, so I think we'll be just fine."