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Ward hopes Bacio can lay Nunthorpe ghost to rest
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 21 Jun 2026
Wesley Ward is eyeing up redemption in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes with his latest Royal Ascot winner Bacio.
The three-year-old turned the Palace of Holyroodhouse into a procession with a blistering display of front-running and then survived the drama of jockey Juan Hernandez initially weighing in light.
Ward has twice trained the runner-up of the Nunthorpe with Acapulco and Lady Aurelia taking the silver medal in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
Bacio’s Ascot success on Friday was run at a rapid pace, faster than the Group One King Charles III Stakes over the same trip on Tuesday, and while Goodwood may come too soon for Bacio, a trip to York would give him ample time to collect his thoughts after the Royal meeting.
Ward said: “He’s great, he’s come out of it really well.
“We’re going to look at the Nunthorpe next, we’ve looked at the European programme for all the five-furlong sprints and that’s the one we’re leaning towards.
“I’ve been second twice and I want to turn the tables, but he’s fast, and his time was faster than the King Charles III when carrying more weight.
“Goodwood comes up a bit too soon for us, my horses tend to tighten up after a big race so he’ll go home to take a breath and then York is on the table.”
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