Ward bounces back to best in cup

Ward struck gold for his new stable when he turned his form around with victory in the Mudgee Cup. The O’Reilly five-year-old had tailed the field home when unsuited by track conditions in his debut from David Vandyke’s Warwick Farm yard and he was able to improve significantly on a good surface.

A five-time winner from 19 appearances, Ward was a $115,000 yearling when offered by WS at Karaka in 2010. He is a son of the Kinjite mare Activate who has done a good job at stud as the dam of five winners, including the open class performer Jack’s Point (Pins). It is also the family of the Singapore Group Three winner Nandowra (Savabeel).