Ward Bullish Golden Pal Can Blaze in Nunthorpe

Wesley Ward said Golden Pal  could be the best horse he has trained in the build-up to the Ebor meeting and the American trainer's confidence has not waned as he bids to crack the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at last.

Ward, who has landed the King's Stand (G1) and Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) among multiple top-flight victories on both sides of the Atlantic, has unfinished business with the group 1 sprint after going so close with Lady Aurelia  in 2017 that Frankie Dettori celebrated thinking he'd won before Marsha was confirmed the winner by a nose. 

Acapulco had also filled the runner-up spot behind Mecca's Angel two years earlier and now Ward returns with another lightning-quick sprinter in Golden Pal, who has won all three U.S. starts since just failing to make all in last year's Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.

Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) winner, who was acquired by Nunthorpe sponsors Coolmore before making a sparkling return with a three-length victory in last month's Quick Call Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course, will be partnered for the first time by Dettori. He has won the Nunthorpe three times but not since 1998.

Ward said: "He seems to have settled in great. It's a very fast track and we've got a great jockey, so if he loses it's my fault. I think everything is in his favor. 

"You're always worried about something with these horses, especially when they're as fast as him, but he's extremely fit and sound, and hopefully it all comes together."

The Nunthorpe is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier, providing automatic paid entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Suesa Ready to Dazzle Again After Goodwood

Suesa  steps back up to the top level after bursting on to the sprinting scene with a sensational victory in the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.

Not only did she beat the now retired Battaash  in his own backyard, the Francois Rohaut-trained filly put three lengths back to runner-up Dragon Symbol  on her first try at the minimum trip.

Prior to that, Suesa suffered her sole defeat in six starts when finishing down the field on heavy ground in the Commonwealth Cup (G1), a race in which Dragon Symbol was first past the post before losing it to Ward's Campanelle  in the stewards' room.

Suesa and Dragon Symbol are joined by fellow 3-year-olds Golden Pal and Winter Power in dominating the Nunthorpe betting—it's 20-1 bar the four at the time of writing—but they are drawn on opposite sides of the track.

"It's a group 1, so the competition is better than at Goodwood and we're drawn in 14 with Golden Pal in stall one," said Rohaut. "She arrived on Wednesday evening having traveled by road and everything's gone fine. She takes her traveling well.

"I've just kept her ticking over to try to keep her fresh with only three weeks between runs and all the traveling. We've been careful not to do too much with her and she seems well."