Wesley Ward breaks new ground with speedy juvenile Joker On Jack

With Royal Ascot around the corner, American trainer Wesley Ward breaks new ground on Saturday when Joker On Jack becomes his first runner at Newbury in the Olympic Glory Conditions Stakes (4.15).

Owned by Ice Wine Stable, Joker On Jack was an impressive winner on dirt at Keeneland last month, but a lack of domestic options on turf means Ward has been forced to look further afield and a bold show would put him in the frame for Royal Ascot next month.

"He won early at Keeneland on dirt but unfortunately there aren't any options on turf for him so the only option was to send him away to get that experience," Ward said. "He came over with Lady Pauline and has been over a little while now with Brian Meehan at Manton."

Wesley Ward: runs Joker On Jack at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Frankie Dettori has been booked for Joker On Jack, and Ward added: "His work has been progressive and his last workout was particularly good. He's a bigger horse than I would normally send over and it looks a good race, so we'll be able to see where we're at with him."

It looks a hot race on paper with five of the eight runners winning on their only start, and one of the leading fancies is Irish challenger Fort Myers, who won smartly at Dundalk. He represents Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien, who won this with The Irish Rover a year ago.

Well Of Wisdom – a winner at Newmarket – runs for Godolphin while Firepower and Temple Of Heaven also look to make it two from two.

Faith looks to emulate Sea Of Class for Haggas team

William Haggas introduced a once-raced daughter of Sea The Stars in Newbury's Fillies' Trial (4.50) a year ago and that filly turned out to be dual Group 1 winner, and narrow Arc runner-up, Sea Of Class.

His runner Sea Of Faith, who runs in the same colours of Christopher Tsui, has an almost identical profile having finished an eyecatching fourth on debut at Sandown where she started slowly but made rapid headway late on.

Sea Of Class (yellow): won the Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes a year agoCredit: Edward Whitaker

Haggas said: "She's fine and she is in good form but I think she will be better over a mile and a half. It's a good race and we need to find out where we are with her. She ran a nice race first time, but the form dipped a bit so I am under no illusions.

"It was a great race for us last year, I'm not sure she is quite a Sea Of Class but we will see."

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