American trainer Wesley Ward already has one eye on Royal Ascot next summer for Nunthorpe runner-up Acapulco after ruling out a return to Britain for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next month.

The daughter of Scat Daddy was a hot favourite to beat her elders on the Knavesmire on Friday following a brilliant display in the Queen Mary, but after looking the likely winner when kicking clear, she was eventually reeled in by the Michael Dods-trained Mecca's Angel.

Ward feels the rain-softened ground went against his filly, but is proud of her achievements and hopes she will be back at York in 12 months' time.

He said: "She's come home in beautiful shape. She's an easy filly to deal with - a good keeper - and there are no worries with her.

"She ran a fantastic race and I really believe we could have had an even better result on quicker ground, but I don't want to take anything away from the winner, who ran a monstrously huge race.

"I had dinner with Michael Tabor (part-owner) that night and I suggested that we should now work backwards from the King's Stand and he said, 'Done', so that is the plan.

"We hope to be back for the King's Stand and the Nunthorpe again next year as a three-year-old filly and hopefully we'll bring her back there 110 per cent."

Ward will discuss plans for the rest of the year with Acapulco's owners, but she will not be heading to Newmarket next month.

"I think to come back for the Cheveley Park would be one trip too many and our focus is primarily on next year," said the trainer.

"I don't know if she'll run again (this year), that's something I'll have to talk over with the guys."

[http://www.britishhorseracing.com/news-media/racing-news/news-item/?news=P-5d9e4602-d739-4b6f-8d3f-59a742b6ce09]