Karl Burke

Whether the Classic picture is any clearer this week than last is debatable but what the last seven days have brought us is some truly impressive performances to savour. And it is hard to pick just one, though it has to be said that Portcullis's Wood Ditton run was visually the most spectacular for all that you could see the colt learning with every stride he took, from being left at the start, to bounding through then clear of his rivals.  His maiden success for the King and Queen played...

Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), runner-up in last term's G1 Deutsches Derby, won the best-turned-out award prior to Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise John Porter Stakes at Newbury and claimed the main prize after overcoming traffic problems in the straight to register a third Group-race triumph. "If we can keep him sound and going the right way I think there is a Group 1 in him for sure," said Burke. "I suppose he could be the best we've had over these distances and before him it would be...

Sent off at 9-1 for Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, Alparslan (Dandy Man) belied the lack of market confidence to prevail in the 2,000 Guineas trial. Sent to the front by Clifford Lee, Mohamed Saeed Al Shehhi's Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes winner who was sixth in the Dewhurst stayed on strongly to deny Zavateri (Without Parole) by a length. The winner's trainer Karl Burke is unsure whether to take the plunge at Newmarket in a fortnight. "It's a case of which Guineas to...

Forz Europe's G2 Debutante Stakes third Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) closed her juvenile campaign with a podium finish in the G1 Fillies' Mile and punched her ticket to a Classic campaign with an impressive tally in Sunday's one-mile G3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp. "We've run a few nice horses in the last ten days or so and a few have disappointed," admitted Karl Burke. "I don't think the string is in top form, but it's nice to see her do that and I'm very, very happy. We always...

Reappearing for the first time since debuting in a hot Newmarket July Festival maiden, Amo Racing and Valmont's Billecart (Night Of Thunder) made light work of his Thursday assignment at Newcastle to keep Classic dreams alive. Far too strong for his three peers in the mile novice on the Tapeta, the 380,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase will be campaigned with the 2,000 Guineas and Irish equivalent in mind according to Karl Burke. "He had a little injury last year, but sometimes they can be a blessing and he's one of...

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE -- From Newmarket bargain buy to Deauville showstopper, Half Sovereign made "a dream come true" on Saturday when selling to Henry Lascelles for €2.6 million to headline the opening session of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage. Offered by Consign Ltd on behalf of trainer Karl Burke and his partner in the daughter of Ten Sovereigns, Adam Spratt, the two-year-old has gone from strength to strength since her low-profile appearance at last year's Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. Purchased by Burke for just 12,000gns at Park Paddocks, Half Sovereign has gone...

Ace Stud has bought G2 Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation to join Karl Burke's stable in Middleham. The daughter of Palace Pier was also third in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes for her former trainer Ed Walker and Opulence Thoroughbreds. Paul Curran, bloodstock and racing manager for Newmarket-based Ace Stud and European representative for the primarily Australian-based Yulong Investments, said, "We bought her a couple of months ago and she's heading to Karl. She's a good filly and hopefully one who can be lucky for us. "We'll take a good look...

Over 300 horses from 19 countries have applied for the 2025-26 Dubai Racing Carnival (DRC) at Meydan this season. The 16-week stand kicked off on November 7 and ends on March 28 with the G1 Dubai World Cup card. The multiple group-placed Heart Of Honor (Honor A. P.) was one of the first to arrive for trainer Jamie Osborne. Trainer Niels Petersen has an 11-strong team from Norway, including Norsk Derby winner War Socks (Kameko). Consistent sprinter Ponntos (Power) has returned for trainer Miroslav Nieslanik, and Denmark's Veronika Jandova brought...

Jockey Clifford Lee, who has been hospitalised with a neck injury since a moterbike accident last month, is recovering, according to trainer Karl Burke. The jockey was on holiday while serving a suspension after winning his last four rides, and sustained a neck injury in Scotland. He is slated to be moved from Edinburgh to Middlesbrough in the coming days. Lee celebrated his first Group 1 win aboard Venetian Sun (Starman) in the G1 Prix Morny this year. There have also been several other notable wins this season aboard Royal...

Trainer Karl Burke expects to have a clearer idea of the severity of Clifford Lee's injuries later this week after the jockey was hospitalised following a motorbike accident in Scotland. Lee has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the Flat, highlighted by a first Group 1 success aboard Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny, as well as several other big-race wins aboard the likes of Royal Champion, Al Qareem and Convergent. The rider is currently serving a suspension and was in Scotland with family when he took a fall from a...

Karl Burke trainee Half Sovereign (Ten Sovereigns) had bagged four of six prior starts and was rewarded for earlier groundwork with a first black-type success in Monday's G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly. "She was very good as we weren't convinced she wants really soft ground, although she's got a bit of form with give in it," said Burke. "I don't know what the strength of the race was, but she did it nicely. We couldn't believe at the time we got her for that [12,000gns] price, to be honest. We...

Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), who had hit the board in a stellar edition of May's G3 Chester Vase and July's G1 Deutsches Derby, gained his black-type breakthrough in the G3 Kilternan five weeks ago and climbed another rung up the ladder with a career best in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp. "The race panned out exactly how I wanted it to," said winning rider Clifford Lee. "It was a strong gallop, but he's one of those that doesn't want being in front too soon....