Top US trainer Wesley Ward set to saddle four speedsters in Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

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ROYAL Ascot runner-up Kimari could head up four runners for Wesley Ward in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The filly was beaten just a head by Mark Johnston’s Raffle Prize in the Queen Mary Stakes back in June.

Kimari (near) was just touched off by Raffle Prize at Royal Ascot

But Kimari has won each of her two starts since returning Stateside and is set to spearhead a quartet of Ward-trained speedsters in the 5.5f contest at Santa Anita on Friday week.

Ward said: “I have the four horses in Juvenile Turf Sprint and that’s it for this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

“This has been the plan for Kimari all year and I was delighted with her last run at Keeneland, where she showed a different dimension in coming from the back to win.”

Kimari is set to be joined by Four Wheel Drive, unbeaten in two starts and winner of the Grade 3 Futurity Stakes on his latest outing, three-times winner Cambria and outsider Karak.

Ward continued: “Four Wheel Drive, or ‘The Four Wheeler’ as we call him, has done nothing wrong so far. He goes there unbeaten – and Kimari would be unbeaten too if it wasn’t for Frankie!

“I have another nice filly for the race called Cambria, who is also unbeaten and won a $500,000 race in Kentucky on her last start.

“They’ve all got different running styles – Cambria comes from last, Kimari will sit mid-pack if she breaks well and ‘The Four Wheeler’ likes to be on the pace.

“I hope they don’t get in the way of each other and we’ll see which way it works out.

“The other filly I have in the race is Karak, who missed the break in the Windsor Castle at Ascot, but she might not get in.”

Ward and Dettori have successfully combined for Breeders’ Cup success in the past – with Hootenanny landing the 2014 Juvenile Turf.

But the trainer will not be able to use the Italian’s services this year, as he is set to partner the Simon Crisford-trained Norfolk Stakes and Flying Childers winner A’Ali.

Ward added: “Frankie can’t ride as he tells me he’s got a good one coming over for this race.”