Four Wheel Drive strikes for Wesley Ward in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Wesley Ward, the American with such a fine touch at Royal Ascot, stamped his authority on his homeland's major meeting on Friday when Four Wheel Drive won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz, who was sporting the silks of Breeze Easy LLC, Four Wheel Drive – like most Ward runners – broke well and picked up powerfully on the turn for home to record a decisive victory.

Chimney Rock was second and Another Miracle third, but the European raiders made little impression.

Ortiz, whose younger brother Jose rode Chimney Rock, was winning his sixth Breeders' Cup contest.

He said: "When I looked I saw Jose was coming and his horse finished strong, but I just kept riding and focused on the wire."

Ward, with ten Royal Ascot successes on his CV, arguably has a better reputation in Britain than the US, but Four Wheel Drive becomes his third winner at the prestigious fixture after Hootenanny in the 2014 Juvenile Turf and Judy The Beauty in the same year's Filly & Mare Sprint.

Wesley Ward (right) is congratulated after his sweet winCredit: Edward Whitaker

"You never relax until they hit the finish line and Chimney Rock was coming right after us," he said. "I knew he'd be tough, but my guy was better.

"It's really special to be here and it's a great feeling."

A son of 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic hero American Pharoah, Four Wheel Drive – 12-1 with Paddy Power for next year's Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot – is now unbeaten in three.

"It's well known I like to go to Royal Ascot and this colt could be one of the favourites there next year. We'll sit down and make a plan," added Ward. "From the outset I thought he could go a mile but it might make sense to keep him to what he is good at.

"His demeanour would remind you of his sire American Pharoah. He was a very docile horse, like a stable pony, and this guy is the same way."

Part-owner Mike Hall was also delighted, saying: "It's been tough to breathe for the last hour, but we've had a big success and it's a dream come true.

"This is a nice horse and I'm so pleased to get the opportunity to come and win here."

The Tom Dascombe-trained Dr Simpson was best of the raiders in fifth, while Alligator Alley was eighth for Joseph O'Brien, who said: "The first and second were gone. We travelled okay and ran to the line, but that's the way it goes."

Two places behind was Norfolk winner A'Ali, whose rider Frankie Dettori said: "We could never get into it from a bad draw."

Ballydoyle's King Neptune was 11th of the 12 runners under Ryan Moore.

"Ryan said he handled the ground but going into the bend at that speed he got a little bit lost," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "That was difficult. He said it was fast ground, but rode very safe. Proper, safe fast ground."

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