Karl Burke is hoping he can maintain his dual Group 1 winning sprinter Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB})'s current well-being ahead of her final target of the season, the G1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint S. at Ascot Oct. 15. Burke has been concerned over the recent form of his yard and has revealed a few of his other horses have been coughing although up to now the stable-star has been unaffected.
“We've had a few horses coughing in the yard recently and mine haven't run that well in the last week,” said Burke. “However, I'm not worried about Quiet Reflection, we've had her scoped and it was clean as a whistle.”
The filly has only been beaten once this season when third to Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in the G1 Darley July Cup on good to firm ground and Burke has little or no concerns over ground conditions leading up to Ascot.
“What I want next week is proper good ground, because that wouldn't be too quick for her and I want to prove she's not a mudlark–some say she's only good on soft, but that's not the case. Basically good ground would be perfect for her and if it's soft even better,” added Burke.
Burke feels it may have been her busy schedule rather than the fast ground that was her undoing at Newmarket.
Added the trainer, “She was on the go early–we took her to France in April–and I wanted to give her a break after Ascot really, but then the July Cup came up. So while she was beaten there, I think she might have just been feeling it. We freshened her up for Haydock [G1 Sprint Cup] and she was brilliant again. She'll do a final good piece of work on Friday or Saturday and that will be it.”
A win at Ascot would put Quiet Reflection in contention to be crowned champion sprinter of the year.
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