Ed Walker

G2 Dahlia S. heroine Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) will try her luck against males in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, according to trainer Ed Walker. A winner of the G3 Valiant S. last July and third in the G1 Sun Chariot S. later that year, the bay mare clawed out a nose victory in the Dahlia S. at Newmarket on May 1. After her visit to France, the J. Fill colourbearer has an engagement in the June 26 G1 Pretty Polly S. "The plan is...

When the affable David Ward bought a Montjeu (Ire) yearling filly at Goffs Orby through SackvilleDonald for €50,000 in 2011, he could not have envisaged the journey she would take he and his family on over the next 10 years. Named Northern Star (Ire), she was no world-beater on the track, winning a maiden at Bath as a 3-year-old; however, her record as a broodmare was impeccable before her untimely death after delivering just three foals. Her second foal was Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who carried Ward's colours to...

Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}--Northern Star {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}), who was favourite for Saturday's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S., has been retired from racing after suffering a minor injury. He will stand next season at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland. "It's a huge shame as we were really looking forward to Saturday and confirming him to be the champion that he is," said Starman's trainer Ed Walker. "I've always thought he was the best around and he's certainly the best I've ever trained." Bred and raced by David Ward,...

Starman (GB) (Dutch art {GB}), the winner of the G1 July Cup, will aim for a start in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 4 after running a close third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. A winner of his first three starts last fall, including the Listed Garrowby S. at York in September, the 4-year-old colt did not care for the soft ground in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. and ran unplaced in October. he was back on top...

David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will venture to Deauville on Aug. 3 in an attempt to get off the mark at the highest level in the G1 Prix Rothschild. Trained by Ed Walker, the 3-year-old filly won the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. at York on May 14 by three lengths, but could manage only fifth in the G1 Falmouth S. on July 9 after meeting trouble in running. "She goes for the Prix Rothschild at Deauville," Walker said. "She had no luck in the Falmouth. There...

With the weather staying clear ahead of Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, David Ward's Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) had his day to deliver on all the abundant promise he had shown so far in his brief career in a strong renewal. Successful in the May 12 G2 Duke of York S. over this six-furlong trip, the 9-2 second favourite was buried in mid-division of the group racing stand's side throughout the early stages with the pace rapid up ahead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to...

Rising star sprinter Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is on course for the July 10 G1 July Cup, with trainer Ed Walker saying he expects ground conditions to be in the 4-year-old's favour. The David Ward homebred was forced to miss last weekend's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. after significant rain fell at Royal Ascot; that course is the scene of Starman's lone defeat, where he beat two home in last year's G1 British Champions Sprint S. over the soft ground. The lightly raced 4-year-old was the first-up winner of the...

Thursday to Friday at Royal Ascot was like chalk and cheese and now that the meeting has become chopped in two by the unprecedented rainstorm there is only need for mudlarks to apply for Saturday's finale. Just as David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was pulled out of the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, so there must be a major doubt as to whether his Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) will be allowed to take part in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Looking the one to beat before the...

If you asked a trainer to design the perfect owner, he or she may well come up with something very close to David Ward. His horses would likely agree, too. Ward had two runners as York's Dante meeting and they both returned to Ed Walker's stable victorious. The 4-year-old homebred Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) won the G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. on the opening day, followed 48 hours later by the listed success of Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Both now head to Royal Ascot with Group...

In February, the inevitable announcement came that Pivotal (GB) was to be pensioned at Cheveley Park Stud at the age of 28. David and Patricia Thompson's homebred son of Polar Falcon has been one of the great British breeding stories of the last few decades and the sturdy chestnut has been a great friend to small and major breeders alike through his magnificent stud innings.  As he continues his retirement, so does his legacy gain momentum. A few months before Pivotal was retired, his son Siyouni (Fr) had been crowned...

David Ward's homebred Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) posted a third straight career victory in September's Listed Garrowby S. over six furlongs at York and was under seven lengths adrift when confronted with testing conditions and losing his unbeaten record with a 14th in Ascot's Oct. 17 G1 British Champions Sprint. Sent postward for Wednesday's G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. back at the Knavesmire venue for his seasonal return, the 4-year-old bay reached a new standard by defeating a swathe of seasoned sprinters in the six-furlong dash. Racing...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-sister to a Classic winner. 1.50 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, f, 8fT BELOVED (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a notable newcomer for the in-form Ed Walker stable, being David Ward's 350,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 half-sister to the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero and sire...