Wesley Ward absent from Royal Ascot this year

For the first time in well over a decade, will not saddle a runner at Royal Ascot, with exciting juvenile

Outfielder

ruled out of the showpiece meeting following a late setback.

Hugely impressive on his Churchill Downs debut, the Speightstown colt looked a major contender for the Norfolk Stakes but will not be making the trip across the Atlantic.

Ward said: “He had a a nice breeze yesterday (Tuesday) on the grass here in Keeneland and unfortunately he came out with just a hair of a shin (problem), which 90 per cent of all two-year-olds get and it’s just unfortunate it’s right on the heels of Ascot.

“We’re here and not over there though, that’s one good thing. He didn’t have to leave Keeneland, so that was good.”

Part-owned by Amo Racing, Outfielder could still be seen in action on European soil this summer, with August’s Prix Morny at Deauville – a Group One Ward has previously won with No Nay Never (2013), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020) – under consideration.

“Our original plan was to go for the Norfolk and then the Prix Morny, so we’ll just train him into the Morny if all goes to plan,” the trainer added.