Wesley snipes at Brit chiefs over testing

WESLEY WARD insists the British Horseracing Authority “can test whatever they want to test” – declaring his impressive Royal Ascot record to be down to nothing more sinister than “a craft I’ve learned”. Since Strike The Tiger’s triumph in the 2009 Windsor Castle Stakes, the American trainer (below) has saddled a further six horses to victory at the Royal meeting. His feats have been dogged by a whispering campaign on the part of British-based trainers suspicious that WarWard has broken racing’s ddrug rules to beat them oon their own turf. But the 49-year-old has issued an open iinvitation to BHA ofofficials to visit his California base to conduct whatever investigations they want. “They are taking hair samples,” he said. “They can test whatever they want to test, and they can hold it for the next 20 years. I’m not worried at all – my horses are coming over here with no medication.” Ward believes American racing’s emphasis on speed – each of his Royal Ascot wins has been gained over sprint distances – is at the heart of his success. “It’s a craft I’ve learned,” he added. “It’s a different type of racing in the States – we’re centred in on speed.” The BHA’s Robin Mounsey said: “Under the BHA’s zero-tolerance policy towards anabolic steroids, every runner from outside of Britain must be tested and produce a negative sample before being permitted to compete here.”