Ward to have eight runners at Royal Ascot

Trainer Wesley Ward has given the lowdown on his eight intended runners at

Royal Ascot next week. The group is made up mainly of juveniles expected to be

scattered among the meeting's six juvenile races. Having had his horses based

with Xavier Nakkachdji in Chantilly since April under the supervision of his

assistant Blake Heap, Ward will ship to Ascot on Saturday.

"We've entered ITALO (With Distinction) in the (June 14) Coventry (S.

[Eng-G2]). He won at Longchamp first time out," Ward's representative Steve

Leving told PA Sport. "HOLDIN BULLETS (Ghostzapper) will run in either the (June

14) Windsor Castle S. or the (June 18) Chesham S., or both. He's not run in

Europe yet. He was in a race, but was scratched. He had a lot of public support

in his first race (a one-length victory over 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland April

21).

"GENTLEMANS CODE (Proud Accolade), the one British racing fans are familiar

with, is in the Windsor Castle. HOLIDAY FOR KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), the only

older horse Wesley will be running at Royal Ascot, is in the (June 14) King's

Stand S. (Eng-G1).

"GYPSY ROBIN (Daaher) has been entered in both the (June 15) Queen Mary S.

(Eng-G2) and the (June 17) Albany S. (Eng-G3). It has not been completely

determined yet which race she is going to run in. She could run in either of the

two. She's run just the once at Keeneland over four and a half furlongs in :50

1/5, a fast time, and she won by 7 1/2 lengths in an 11-horse field. She can

really run.

"Similarly the horse that won in Paris, JUDY THE BEAUTY (Ghostzapper), is

also nominated for both those races. She won at Keeneland in a fast time and

then won again over five furlongs at Chantilly last month. Judy the Beauty has

trained well and is a good one.

"EVERYDAY DAVE (Weather Warning) has run twice. He won his maiden easily at

Keeneland and then he won at Chantilly by eight lengths in a time of :57.3. He's

slated to go for the (June 16) Norfolk S. (Eng-G2). TIZ TERRIFIC (Tiznow) is a

filly who has been nominated for the Chesham and she won by 2 1/2 lengths at

Longchamp.

"So far, so good. You have to be lucky and it has been firm ground, which was

beneficial. The horses were well-trained and they have talent. It is different

now to what it was when Wesley won at Ascot the year before last. He won with

Strike the Tiger (Tiger Ridge), he won with Jealous Again (Trippi), but the

fashion he did it was a little different because the horses went directly to

England for the races. Now this is new territory and when you're running at

Royal Ascot you're running against the best horses in the world. It's a

difficult assignment."