Karl Burke

It seems a mere blink of an eye ago, but the inaugural Goffs London Sale took place in June 2014 in groundbreaking fashion. War Horse made an appearance, and was for a few brief moments ridden by Johnny Murtagh, while the first foal by Frankel to appear in any sale ring was, understandably, a show-stopper which made the national and television news. The auction has evolved over that time when it comes to the business of horse-trading but what has not changed is that its cocktail party feel offers, for...

Two wild-card entries have been added to Monday's Goffs London Sale, including G3 Greenham Stakes winner Alparslan (Dandy Man). Trained by Karl Burke, Alparslan beat subsequent German 2,000 Guineas winner Title Role, as well as Albert Einstein and Group 1 winner Zavateri when making his seasonal debut in the Greenham at Newbury. He was subsequently fifth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by the runner-up, in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.  Twice a winner at two, Alparslan holds entries in both the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot...

Eleven fillies will head postward for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly after declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Ryan Moore is set to partner G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine, and likely favourite, Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica), who has drawn stall three. Her Aidan O'Brien stablemate Moments Of Joy (Justify) will exit stall eight under Wayne Lordan. "Everything has gone well with Diamond Necklace since she won the French Guineas and I've been very happy with her," O'Brien commented, "The plan was...

Wathnan Racing and Karl Burke will head to Royal Ascot with some exciting two-year-olds and Monday's action at Carlisle saw Light Of Dawn (Showcasing) add her name to the list. The victory follows a brace of winners for the Wathnan operation at Churchill Downs on Sunday, both of whom - Sneakily (Tapit) and Leading Change (Gun Runner) - were subsequently named 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard'. Sent off the 5-6 favourite for the near-six-furlong novice, the €625,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase was settled in rear of the quartet early...

Rathbarry Stud have not had too long to wait for the first winner for their first-season sire State Of Rest as Anad scored on debut at Wolverhampton on Friday. Sent off the 2-1 favourite for the extended seven-furlong fillies' novice, the Karl Burke-trained €150,000 Goffs Orby Book 2 topper raced in rear throughout the early stages. Sent forward by Clifford Lee on the home turn, Alanood Althani's colour-bearer was notably green after hitting the front a furlong out but firmly in command as she registered a head verdict over Shadwell's...

Golden boy of the week has to be Starspangledbanner (though Wayne Lordan and Karl Burke both deserve consideration for that title). To have had both Cartier champion two-year-olds last year was a big enough feather in his cap but for both Gstaad and Precise to progress into Classic winners in the space of 24 hours at the Curragh cements their sire's position among the elite. A more in-depth look at the Starspangledbanner story to date in TDN back in December put forward the suggestion that the best days were still...

With Haydock's two sprint Group 2s going ahead after early drama on Saturday's card, it was Karl Burke and Clifford Lee who were the most relieved as they pulled off the double with Night Raider (Dark Angel) in the William Hill Temple Stakes. Sent off the 3-1 favourite for the five-furlong test, having marked his first run since a gelding op with an all-the-way win in Newmarket's G3 Palace House Stakes earlier this month, Wathnan's representative wasn't asked to lead this time with his rider in supreme form. Delivered to...

Significantly delayed by the discovery of a drainage hole in the home straight, Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes eventually played out with a compensatory dazzling performance from the high-class Venetian Sun (Starman). Reverting to six furlongs after failed efforts over further in the Moyglare and the 1,000 Guineas, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny heroine went through this contest as if operating on a different level and only needed encouraging late on to dismiss Division (Kingman) by three lengths. Spicy Marg (Starspangledbanner) was another 1 1/2 lengths away in...

Karl Burke is currently unleashing his big Royal Ascot prospects and Wednesday saw another enter the picture in Ruler's Pride (Mehmas) at Ayr. Making his debut in the five-furlong card opener for Wathnan Racing, the 30-100 favourite who cost £550,000 when the highest-priced colt at last month's Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale was soon in front of his two rivals under Clifford Lee. Strong to the line, the relative of the high-class Campanelle (Kodiac) had 3 1/4 lengths to spare over the Faheys' fellow newcomer Crystal Queen (Cotai Glory), with...

Trainer Karl Burke unveiled subsequent G3 Albany, G2 Duchess Of Cambridge and G1 Prix Morny heroine Venetian Sun (Starman) in last term's British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Carlisle and he unleashed another Royal Ascot contender in this year's renewal. James Doyle made the long journey north to partner Wathnan Racing's 300,000gns Craven Breeze-Up graduate Wild Blossom (Mehmas) at the Cumbrian venue and she returned with a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, rosette after routing her three rivals by 10 lengths and more in the five-furlong contest,...

Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) will face 18 peers in Sunday's G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Ryan Moore set to partner the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies' Mile winner for the first time. She is drawn two for the mile Classic, with one of her chief rivals Venetian Sun (Starman) next door in stall one furthest away from the stands' rail. Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny winner is one of two in the race for Karl Burke, with her regular rider Clifford Lee maintaining the partnership. Burke's other runner...

The thrilling, fleeting moments of watching a horse win can be enough to sustain a breeder throughout tougher or more mundane times. And so it was when TDN got on the blower to Mark Dreeling that we found him mucking out while still able to exude excitement in the yarn of how he and his wife Barbara Fonzo came to breed Saturday's G3 Greenham Stakes winner Alparslan. "I'm well back down to earth," he says, pitchfork in one hand, phone presumably wedged between ear and shoulder on the other side....