Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who last year became the first 3-year-old filly ever to be named Cartier champion sprinter, has not had a straightforward beginning to her 4-year-old campaign this year, and a further cloud has come over her with trainer Karl Burke admitting she is unlikely to be fit enough to defend her title in G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 9.
Quiet Reflection bested the males to win last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and won the Sprint Cup after a third behind Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in the G1 July Cup. She managed to beat just two home when 10th in Haydock's G2 Temple S. on May 27, and was forced to miss Royal Ascot after meeting with a setback.
“Everything is going well, she's in light work and we're hoping to step her up in stronger work from the end of the month and into August,” Burke said. “She is in the Sprint Cup, but that's on Sept. 9 and things are going to have to go exceptionally well between now and then for her to make it. It's not impossible, but I think the more likely scenario is we'll aim for Champions Day [the Qipco British Champions Sprint] in October and give her a prep run somewhere beforehand.”
“It's been a frustrating year so far,” Burke added. “She's just had a few niggles, but we were happy with her run in the Temple and how she came out of it and unfortunately she then picked up a little problem that meant we had to miss Royal Ascot.”
Another date in Quiet Reflection's diary is the breeding stock sales at the end of the season.
“She has a date in the sales in November and I would think that's where she'll end up,” Burke said.
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