Ward was a successful animal painter who gives his horses a nervous, highly-strung character often supported by an intense and dramatic landscape background. Ward was appointed Painter and Engraver in Mezzotint to the Prince of Wales in 1794 and executed engravings after works in the collection for George III. There are only three paintings in the collection, horse portraits of identical dimensions, commissioned by George IV at a cost of 100 guineas each and executed in 1821 and 1824. It is difficult to say how connected the three paintings were; George IV often commission groups of similar paintings without apparently considering exactly how they might pair off. Two of the Wards were together at Windsor in 1878 (OM 1135-6, 405017-8), while the third was at Stud Lodge (OM 1137, 402008), but they may have been a set of three which had become separated.

Soothsayer was a chestnut foaled in 1808. He won the St. Leger in 1811, starting as second favourite in a field of 24. Following a win the next day, he was sold by his breeder Mr. Gascoigne, to Lord Foley to race at Newmarket. He won twice over the next two seasons out of three starts. He retired to stud after 1813 and was exported to Russia in 1823. A print after this painting described the horse as belonging to to the King, who presumably therefore had him for stud. Soothsayer, a chestnut horse, is shown in profile in a spacious landscape.

Signed and dated: 'J WARD RA. 1821'