Clifford Lee

Lining up in a stellar renewal of Deauville's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny as the sole filly, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Venetian Sun (Starman) did what she has been doing so well to her own sex in 2025 and got the job done. Tracking the strong pace travelling kindly under Clifford Lee, the 29-10 second favourite edged ahead passing the furlong pole and after outstaying Wise Approach (Mehmas) found the line a short neck ahead of the 11-10 favourite Gstaad (Starspangledbanner). "She does everything so relaxed and has a temperament...

Jaber Abdullah's once-raced Hope Queen (Night Of Thunder), a granddaughter of storied European champion Attraction, posted a debut success for the Karl Burke stable at Beverley last month and repeated the dose on black-type bow with a battling victory in Thursday's Listed European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes at Sandown. "We knew we had a nice filly after she won at Beverley and it's nice to get a Listed win into her," said winning rider Clifford Lee. "Once we got a clear run, I knew I was always going to...

Royal Ascot heroine Venetian Sun (Starman) had history on her side entering Friday's G2 bet365 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, with four of the last 10 winners backing up a G3 Albany Stakes triumph, and she added her name to that roll of honour with a narrow victory in the six-furlong dash at Newmarket. "The race panned out perfectly and she lengthened correctly on the rising ground," said winning rider Clifford Lee. "But she hit the front too soon, she thought he race was finished and started to cruise," he added....

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), a 210,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 750,000gns Book 1 yearling, created a favourable impression with a taking debut success in Saturday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Novice Stakes over seven furlongs at York. Accepting a tow in third after breaking on the lead, the 3-1 second favourite was shaken up to challenge soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from Crest Of Fire (Phoenix Of Spain). Hankelow is the...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Reciprocated (Havana Grey), a 210,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 450,000gns Book 1 yearling, backed up a debut victory at Nottingham earlier this month and made all to register a decisive four-length victory for the Karl Burke stable in Wednesday's Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Novice Stakes at Carlisle. 2nd-Carlisle, £40,000, Nov, 6-25, 2yo, 5f 182yT, 1:15.85, sf. RECIPROCATED (GB) (c, 2, Havana Grey {GB}--Radio Gaga {GB} {SW & GSP-Eng}, by Multiplex {GB}), a June 4 debut winner going just over six furlongs at Nottingham last time, broke...

Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's once-raced Carlisle maiden winner Venetian Sun (Starman) fulfilled the role of spoiler with aplomb and the Karl Burke trainee prevented a Ballydoyle clean sweep of Royal Ascot's juvenile pattern races with a dominant victory in Friday's G3 Albany Stakes. The 240,000gns Book 1 graduate, drawn in the supposedly unfavourable stall one on the track's far side, raced on the wing in midfield through halfway in this straight six-furlong contest. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching the quarter-mile pole, the well-backed 7-1 chance made continued...

Karl Burke trainee Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Tough Spirit {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}) bounced back off a close-up fourth in last month's G2 Queen Mary Stakes to secure a career high in Wednesday's Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes at Naas. The 10-11 favourite, a debut winner at Thirsk in April and runner-up in May's Listed Marygate Stakes at York, raced off the pace towards the rear through the initial fractions of this five-furlong dash. Powering forward on the bridle once past halfway, she came under pressure to launch her challenge...

Shadwell's Mohaather (GB) (by Showcasing {GB}) became the latest first-crop sire to get off the mark on Thursday as his daughter Serving With Style (GB) scored at Carlisle. Sent off the 13-8 favourite for the track's maiden over nearly seven furlongs, Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass's £75,000 Goffs UK Premier Sale graduate was in rear early after a tardy start. Staying on between rivals to take command 150 yards from the finish, the Karl Burke trainee was pushed out by Clifford Lee to score by 3/4 of a length from...

Trainer Karl Burke's banner season continued apace on the opening day of Doncaster's St Leger Festival after G3 Prestige S. victrix Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Monday Monday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) added lustre to her palmares with a clear-cut triumph in Thursday's G2 Betfred May Hill S. over a straight mile at the Town Moor track. Newtown Anner Stud's homebred, who registered a 10-length tally at Thirsk in her penultimate start, bounded along behind a steady tempo and raced third through the initial fractions. Taking closer order once past...

Karl Burke annexed the 2018 edition of Deauville's G3 Prix de Cabourg with Comedy (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and the Spigot Lodge conditioner doubled his tally in the six-furlong contest after last month's G2 Norfolk S. third Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) pounced for a decisive success in this year's renewal. The 6-4 joint-favourite, who had earlier powered to a runaway success in Sandown's Listed National S., was positioned behind the leader in second after a level break. Looming large on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker, he was...

Dalham Hall Stud resident Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Karl Burke trainee Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Agnes Stewart {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) made a winning debut going just under seven furlongs in Friday's Oakmere Homes Supporting Macmillan Fillies' Novice S. at Haydock. Tracking the leaders in third for the most part, the 9-4 favourite was angled into a clear lane approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly once launching her challenge entering the final furlong...

Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) notched a one-length tally in the 2017 renewal of Sandown's Listed Racehorse Lotto National S. and the second-crop sire left his mark on the contest once more after his Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned son Elite Status (GB) powered to a hugely impressive success in the five-furlong dash. The 5-2 favourite had opened his account with a three-length triumph in his May 6 debut over the same trip at Doncaster and jumped to the head of ante-post betting lists for Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk...