Having made a slowish start to the year by his standards Karl Burke has some nice horses to look forward to in the second half of the season and among others is recent recruit Aim To Please (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB}). Formerly trained in France by Francois Doumen for whom she won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte last year, Aim To Please was recently bought by John Dance for £340,000 at the Goffs London Sale before running fifth to Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. Her new owner has subsequently transferred the 4-year-old to Burke's Yorkshire stable and the trainer is hoping to start her out at one of his local tracks later this week. “She's in good order and is probably going to run in a listed race at York on Friday, as long as the ground is suitable. She likes a bit of cut in the ground,” Burke said on Sunday. “She is also entered in the [G1] Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, but obviously that's a very big race and I think we'll probably take the easier option while she's still settling in with us.” Aim To Please ran in the GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine last year and although she only beat one home on that occasion Burke is keen to let her have another crack at that contest. “The long-term target is the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in October. She wasn't beaten all that far in it last year and I think it's the right race for her. She's a straightforward filly and we're pleased to have her,” he added.
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