The Lady Is A Champ

American flyer Lady Aurelia shows them all a clean pair of heels for the second year running

THIS LADY IS A FAST WORKER

LADY AURELIA was the brightest star on the opening day of the Royal meeting, with a blistering win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes.

The 7/2 shot gave her backers not a moment’s worry as she picked up off a strong pace to win as she liked – just 100th of a second outside the track record.

The only sad man watching that performance was Frankie Dettori who should have been on board but was forced out of the meeting with the arm injury be picked up days earlier.

American trainer Wesley Ward is a dab hand at winning Royal Ascot prizes and he was delighted with Lady Aurelia’s performance.

He said: “That was awesome. Lady Aurelia is a very special filly.

“You never know what will happen in these races. This is a Group One with some of the fastest horses in the world, and to duplicate what she did last year, she is a once in a lifetime horse.

“She loves it over here. We look forward to a really big summer and then the Breeders’ Cup. The owners are so excited. It is wonderful for American racing.

“All the team have done a fantastic job with her and she really is something special.”

Top American pilot John Valasquez rode his third Royal Ascot winner in the race but Ward was thinking of Frankie.

He added: “I feel so bad for my Frankie. I feel really happy for John so if you watching Frankie, you’re with us.

“She has immense talent and immense speed. Hopefully, with the experience she has now, she should get better and better.”

Ward suggested that a tilt at the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August is next on the agenda for the US-bred filly, for which she is an even money favourite.

He said: “This is a once in a lifetime horse and I need to sit down with the owners but I would like to go the Nunthorpe Stakes at York with her next.