Lady Aurelia to Make Season Debut in Giant's Causeway
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Lady Aurelia (in front) works five furlongs with Bound for Nowhere over Keeneland's firm turf in 1:00 1/5
Trainer Wesley Ward said Keeneland's listed Giant's Causeway Stakes, at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf April 15, is scheduled to mark the 2017 debut of Stonestreet Farm, George Bolton, Peter Leidel's Lady Aurelia, Europe's 2016 champion 2-year-old filly.
"(The Giant's Causeway) gives us good spacing to go to the (June 20) King's Stand (G1), which is five-eighths (of a mile) at Royal Ascot," Ward said.
Co-owner Barbara Banke of Stonestreet and Ward watched Lady Aurelia's first work of the year over the Keeneland turf course April 2. Working with Ward's 3-year-old maiden winner Bound for Nowhere, the Scat Daddy filly covered five furlongs over the firm turf in 1:00 1/5. Bound for Nowhere to her inside was clocked in 1:01 1/5.
"Beautiful work—everything we want," Ward said. "Finished with speed to spare."
During Keeneland's 2016 spring meet, Lady Aurelia captured her debut in track-record time and went on to win the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot and Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in France. She finished third in the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket in England in her last start of the year.
Banke said Lady Aurelia, a $350,000 purchase from the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale, already ranks among Stonestreet's top runners, which include Horses of the Year Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.
"She's right up there at the top. Another champion—a European champion," Banke said. "We gotta (run American horses overseas) more. It's important just to show the breadth and speed of American bloodstock and make people want to come over here and buy our yearlings at the Keeneland sale."