Trainer Wesley Ward is favoring the Prix Morny (Fr-I) in France for his star juvenile filly Lady Aurelia, one of the most impressive winners at Royal Ascot in June, and hopes to work her at Keeneland in the next 10 days.
Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Peter Leidel's daughter of Scat Daddy demolished rivals by seven lengths in the Queen Mary (Eng-II) June 15 at the Royal meet. While Ward initially ruled out a follow-up race in the Nunthorpe (Eng-I), where she would face older rivals, including males, Aug. 19 at York, she remains eligible, though he is leaning heavily toward the Prix Morny for 2-year-old colts and fillies going about six furlongs Aug. 21 at Deauville.
Since her return to the United States, Lady Aurelia is "doing beautiful," Ward told Sky Sports.
"We're hoping to take her to Keeneland in the next 10 days to work her on the grass," Ward said. "They don't usually open up the turf course at Keeneland for work during the summer, but they've done it in the past for horses like Wise Dan, and Acapulco went there last year, and they've been good enough to allow Lady Aurelia to go there as well.
"We'll take her there and she'll be ready for the Morny after that."
The Queen Mary marked just the second career start for Lady Aurelia, who won her debut at Keeneland by 7 1/2 lengths April 21.
Lady Aurelia's stablemate Acapulco won the Queen Mary last year before a runner-up finish to Mecca's Angel in the five-furlong Nunthorpe.
"She's certainly nominated for the race and we'll have a look at it nearer the time," Ward said of Lady Aurelia. "But I've said before, she's a different type of filly to Acapulco, who is a big bruiser."
After missing this year's Royal Ascot meet, Acapulco remains on target for another Nunthorpe bid, Ward said.
