'He's the fastest of the fast' - Golden Pal leads Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot raid

Day one of Royal Ascot is expected to start with a bang with superstar milers Baaeed and Coroebus in action, but they could be overshadowed by King's Stand favourite Golden Pal according to Wesley Ward, who describes the four-year-old as "the fastest of the fast".

No trainer quite encapsulates the international nature of the royal meeting quite like Ward, who has already saddled 12 winners there, and the US trainer has high hopes for the team of five he is set to bring over.

Ward's team is headed by Golden Pal, runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes in 2020, and dual Royal Ascot winner Campanelle, leading the Keeneland-based trainer to believe this is the strongest raiding party he has brought to the meeting.

But it is Golden Pal he sees as the crown jewel. "I'm so excited for this horse I can't even tell you," Ward said. "He's the best I've ever brought to Ascot in all these years, and I've brought some good ones, but this guy is the fastest of the fast. He's certainly the fastest I've ever had.

"He's really matured from last year to this. Mentally and physically he's gotten bigger and stronger, as any horse would from three to four, but he's just a pure athlete and this is his year."

King's Stand Stakes entries and betting

Golden Pal has won his last three starts, including the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, while Campanelle is in pursuit of a hat-trick of her own in the Platinum Jubilee having landed the Queen Mary in 2020 and the Commonwealth Cup last year courtesy of the stewards' demotion of Dragon Symbol.

On Campanelle, Ward added: "She's training great. We've planned on this since last year. We were keen to try for three times if at all possible, as we know how tough that is.

"She's certainly a great sportswoman and she's come back and she's flourished for her time down in Florida. Since she got back, one work after another has been fantastic and she won brilliantly [at Keeneland in April], it was beautiful."

Golden Pal (Irad Ortiz) wins the Turf Sprint at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker

The duo are joined by Love Reigns, who runs in the Queen Mary Stakes, the Windsor Castle-bound Seismic Spirit and Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap hope Ruthin.

Ward has often used Frankie Dettori at Royal Ascot but confirmed top US jockey Irad Ortiz will be coming over for all five rides at Ascot.

"Irad is riding every one," said Ward. "Frankie [Dettori] is my man and I love him, but Irad is swinging right now in the States – he's the hottest rider in America. He's put a lot of work in for me early in the mornings and he’s so excited to get over to Ascot."

The Ward team will be based at Chelmsford racecourse this year, with his horses expected to arrive late on Wednesday.

"They leave at 4.30am and I'll come a couple of days later," said the trainer. "I figured that after a long flight they can jump right off and straight into bed as Stansted to Chelmsford is only a few miles away, whereas Newmarket means a little longer on the lorry.

"They'll have an easy day on Thursday and [then] Friday, Saturday, Sunday they'll have a couple of gallops there at Chelmsford and then we can move into Ascot and be in good shape."

Ward 'devastated' after theft of Royal Ascot trophies from US home

Going update at Ascot

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels described the ground at Ascot as good on the straight course and good, good to soft in places on the round course yesterday, on the eve of the first six-day entries and confirmations for the meeting.

He said on Tuesday: "This evening and overnight we're expecting some rain, maybe 7mm or 8mm, and then it looks a little drier for a few days after that, breezy and warming up a little bit over the weekend.

"There is the chance of the odd shower passing through but there aren't vast volumes of rain forecast.

"Assuming the forecast is correct, the going doesn't look like being that soft for the meeting at this stage. We won't start on soft going anyway."

King's Stand Stakes (Tuesday, June 14)

bet365: 15-8 Golden Pal, 3 Nature Strip, 12 A Case Of You, Romantic Proposal, 14 Home Affairs, Man Of Promise, Mooneista, 16 bar

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