Wesley Ward hailed Frankie Dettori "the greatest jockey in the world" ahead of his high-profile ride aboard No Nay Never in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita tonight.
The American trainer and the popular Italian have built up a fruitful relationship in the last 12 months, with Dettori partnering Undrafted to finish fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket before being called upon by Ward to ride his major hopes at Saratoga's opening summer meeting.
The pair combined to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday night's Santa Anita card with Hootenanny.
Ward said: "I'm so excited about this weekend I can barely stand it. We look to have a great bunch of horses going there and we have the greatest jockey in the world riding for us, so I really can't wait."
Winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last June before lifting the Prix Morny at Deauville, No Nay Never has endured an interrupted three-year-old campaign.
A potential return to Ascot was discussed in the winter, but he was beaten at Gulfstream Park in early March and was then sidelined for seven months prior to his recent winning return at Keeneland.
The ebullient Ward is confident he has his stable star back firing on all cylinders and has the utmost faith in Dettori to get it right on the big day aboard No Nay Never, who will retire to Coolmore Stud in Ireland after the race.
Undrafted is also set to take his chance in the Turf Sprint and will be ridden by John Velazquez.
Ward said: "No Nay Never is probably one of the smartest horses I ever trained. He was a little bit slow out of the gate at Keeneland, but now he has had that gate refresher, I think he'll come smoking out for Frankie on Saturday.
"Undrafted, who was fourth in the July Cup, is in unbelievable shape as well. I couldn't tell you who is the better horse out of the two, but No Nay Never is the more accomplished horse."
Ward has other major chances and believes one of his best hopes of another winner is Filly & Mare Sprint contender Judy The Beauty.
He said: "I'd be lying if I said anything other than I thought Judy The Beauty was the one I had most hope for, as I own her! I'm very lucky that nearly all of them are favourites, but I think she probably has the best chance of all of them."
