A fog-delayed flight from Christchurch last week disrupted his plans, but coming up with the plum two draw for the first two-year-old fillies $A20,000 2150m (mobile) crown semifinal has Ward smiling.
She is likely to lead and dictate proceedings for driver Anthony Butt, with main rival Nostra Villa, unbeaten in seven starts, drawn the inside of the second line for the rampant Victoria combination of trainer Emma Stewart and driver Chris Alford.
Ward, who first started training in 1987, and Angel Of Harlem were set to embark last Thursday, but fog didn’t allow flights to land in Christchurch.
“I ran around and jumped on a commercial flight but the horse had to go back to the [horse transport] depot and spent the day in a box,” said Ward.
“She arrived Friday night and then we spent Saturday driving down from Sydney to [trainer] Sonia Smith’s place here near Melton.
“Angel Of Harlem has been settling in better with each passing day and she has been drinking well.
“So while things haven’t exactly gone perfectly, I think we’re on the right track now.”
Angel Of Harlem, who finished a huge third at the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on June 3 in 1:53.8 (mobile 1609m) after being caught wide throughout, has been “a bit dumb” racing in front in the past, but Ward believes she has been getting better with each outing.
She was good leading and winning a workout at Ashburton last week, where she went 2.58 for 2400m mobile, the last 400m in 27sec.
Ward said it was a bit disappointing to see both Kiwi fillies in the same semi, given there was a plan for Butt to drive both Angel Of Harlem and Bettor Joy, and then hand over the latter to leading Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn for the final.
Bettor Joy, trained by Ward’s neighbour Cran Dalgety at West Melton, has drawn three on the second line for veteran Australian driver Gavin Lang.
The other semifinal for the two-year-old fillies will be a highlight, with the Stewart stablemates Nostra Beach (drawn two) and Molly Kelly (seven) taking on the unbeaten Shane Tritton-trained Kiwi-bred star My Sweetchilliphilly (nine).
Dalgety’s other runner, Master Moonlite, has drawn 12 for Butt in the first two-year-olds colts and geldings semifinal, with King Of Swing in three for Auckland trainer Ray Green and driver David Butcher.
Partyon (3) and Sicario (4) have drawn nicely for Mark Purdon in their respective three-year-old semifinals, but More The Better will have to contend with the outside of the front line in his.
Partyon’s clash with the Stewart-trained filly Miss Graceland, who won the Victoria Oaks, will be a highlight.
It will be a surprise if any of the Kiwi contingent on Saturday night don’t qualify for the rich $A1.4m finals day on Sunday week, with a top-six finish securing a finals berth.
