GO FOR-WARD
Trainer has his team fired up
AFTER an excellent end of term report from his first season training Tom Ward believes he can do even better when racing resumes.
The former assistant trainer with Richard Hannon took the plunge last year when granted a licence in August.
And from only a handful of horses Ward showed he knows the time of day, firing in the winners in the UK as well as at Deauville.
Like every trainer in the country, he is fired up for the new season after coronavirus halted racing on March 17.
“We’re lucky as I’ve got a loyal bunch of owners that have stuck by us,” saidWard who has 31 horses at his LambournWhitehouse Stables.
“Hopefully, now we’ve got a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Dirty Rascal, successful at Glorious Goodwood last season for former boss Hannon, is expected to play a leading role this term along with Mouriyani, winner of two races since joining Ward from Dermot Weld.
Tintoretto, an impressive winner at Kempton in March, could also add to that success.
“Dirty Rascal has improved again over the winner,” said Ward. “As has Vintage Rascal who won at Windsor in October. I’m really happy with Mouriyani.We had him gelded and he’s also improving.”
Along with the established performers, Ward is enthusiastic about the 22 two-year-olds he has under his care.
“Of the ones that have been named, I like Diamond Bay, Ranging Rascal and also a very nice Dandy Man filly Star Of Deauville,” he said. “They are a nice spread – some running early, mid-season and some later on.”
Ward hopes to move into a new yard in July with stabling for 46 horses. “It will be a tricky year,” he said. “Obviously, we’re just hoping to get through this year and have as much success as we can on the back of what we’ve done.
“We’ve got some nice horses that hopefully will be running in decent company.
“If they could get a couple of Pattern races, that would be a nice goal to achieve at the end of the year.”
Ward secured the Pheasant Inn in Lambourn as his yard sponsor, and if his secondterm report matches his first there will be plenty of celebrations at the popular pub.