Tom Ward has been left enthusiastic about the upcoming season after Woodhay Wonder`s outstanding performance during her seasonal return at Newmarket last week.
The daughter of Tamayuz proved to be a real moneymaker for her connections last season, placing honourably third in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes behind Persian Dreamer and winning significant sales races on both the July course and Rowley Mile.
Returning to action in handicap company at the Craven meeting, she extended not only her winning sequence to three but also demonstrated that she had improved enough over the winter to be a force to be reckoned with this term, continuing her love affair with Newmarket.
“I was delighted she was able to pick up from where she left off,” said Ward. “She came back looking great but there is always a worry they might not pick up as a three-year-old, but she came out and showed what she has got. She’s got plenty of speed and was very tactful the way she went about it and I thought it was impressive how she managed to kick from the front and keep going up the hill there at Newmarket. She’s starting to really get the hang of things and that will stand her in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Woodhay Wonder does not currently have any set plans, as Ward is aware that the season has not yet fully begun and that the summer is still long.
If she keeps improving, the handler anticipates having the chance to put his speedster to the test in pattern company later in the year.
He continued: “There’s a couple of races at Newmarket on Guineas weekend, but it’s only two weeks since her last run and there’s no rush to hurry back to the well. There’s a long year ahead so I will just see how she goes over the next week or so. At this stage I wouldn’t be rushing her back. We will just assess our options going forward and I haven’t nailed anything down just yet, but I’m excited we have a filly with plenty of quality going forward this season.”