Lady Aurelia in Top Form for Prix Morny
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Lady Aurelia wins Queen Mary Stakes earlier this season.
Lady Aurelia put in her final U.S. work Aug. 11 at Keeneland in preparation for a trip to Deauville to contest the group I Darley Prix Morny Stakes.
Stonestreet Stable’s undefeated homebred daughter of Scat Daddy is scheduled to ship Aug. 13. She will be making her third start in the Aug. 21 Prix Morny, France's first group I race for 2-year-olds. The Prix Morny will be Lady Aurelia's second graded/group stakes start; she won the Queen Mary Stakes (Eng-II) by seven lengths in June during Royal Ascot. Stonestreet races the filly in partnership with George Bolton and Peter Leidel.
Lady Aurelia worked in company with Ward’s 4-year-old stakes-winning sprinter Hooligan, going four furlongs on the turf in :48.
“She broke off right behind (Hooligan),” said Ward. “She eased out and cruised right on by and had a beautiful, beautiful gallop out. She cooled out good and sound, so we’re very excited.”
Ward had also planned to ship group winner Acapulco to York for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Eng-I) but those plans have changed.
“She is doing very well, but she has a little bit of a foot issue so she’s going to need more time to come around,” Ward said. “She is not ready to put on a plane and go over there, yet.”
Ward is considering for Acapulco’s next start either the Sept. 10 $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint going 6 1/2 furlongs or the $150,000 Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 8 during the track’s Fallstars opening weekend.
Acapulco is owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, who bought the 3-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy for $750,000 out of the 2015 Ocala Breeders’ Sale’s March 2-year-olds sale. She’s run twice so far this year and won both times, taking the Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs May 14 by 3 1/2 lengths in her most recent start. Acapulco finished second in last year’s Nunthorpe Stakes.