American trainer Wesley Ward is hopeful his two-time Royal Ascot winner Lady Aurelia will be heading back to the Royal meeting in June 2018.
The three-year-old has dazzled the British summer highlight, winning the Queen Mary Stakes (2016) and the King’s Stand Stakes (2017) and is now eyeing a hat-trick after a quiet winter.
Ward was disappointed by the Scat Daddy filly’s Breeders’ Cup run, when favourite for the Turf Sprint, but is now looking ahead to next season.
“She came out good and sound,” Ward told TVG Network.
“She probably just had the effects of a long year, going to Europe a few times. We are obviously disappointed but we are hoping to have a big year with her in 2018 and put the smiles back on people’s faces.
“She is heading back to where she was raised, go home for a little while and then get back to same schedule as last season.
“We hope to go back to Royal Ascot, we will see after the Giants Causeway how she gets on in that great race.”
Royal Ascot 2018, from June 19th– 23rd, is looking likely to be another truly global event with Australian superstar Winx also hoping to head to Berkshire to battle against Europe’s elite.
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