Karl Burke

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's Listed Flying Scotsman runner-up Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) exhibited an unflinching attitude and led from pillar to post for a career high in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, a contest won last year by subsequent G1 Eclipse and G1 Irish Champion hero Delacroix (Dubawi). "He has got such a great mind on him and can only get better," insisted trainer Karl Burke. "I think he will be better on a more level track and I'll see what [jockey] Cliff [Lee] has to say. He'd certainly...

The 16th and final seven-figure lot this year at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was Ballyhimikin Stud's Night Of Thunder colt out of Wild Rye (Bated Breath), who was knocked down to Karl and Kelly Burke for 1,000,000gns. Successful once in three career starts for Juddmonte, Wild Rye is a sibling to seven other winners, including the G1 Grand Prix de Paris-winning sire Zambezi Sun (Dansili), G2 Guillaume d'Ornano hero Kalabar (Kahyasi) and Listed scorer Zero Gravity (Dansili), the dam of the high-class filly Kalpana (Study Of...

Completing a trio of consecutive Group 1 successes on Saturday, Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) laid claim to being Wathnan Racing's flagbearer as she made all in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes. Regaining her old prowess in the Prix Rothschild and Matron Stakes in recent weeks, the Karl Burke-trained 11-4 second favourite set out her stall from the outset under James Doyle and despite being made to fight by Blue Bolt (Blue Point) from two out drew away from that Juddmonte runner on the climb to the line to score by...

Elite Status, a Group-winning sprinter at two and three, has been retired from racing and will stand alongside his sire, Havana Grey, at Whitsbury Manor Stud next year. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. Trained by Karl Burke for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Elite Status arrived at Royal Ascot unbeaten as a two-year-old following impressive victories in a maiden at Doncaster and the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. Though meeting with defeat when attempting to extend his winning sequence in the G2 Norfolk Stakes, ultimately...

Coming into Friday's G2 Joel Stakes a colt on the rise, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Zeus Olympios (Night Of Thunder) emerged from the mile feature with unbeaten record intact and reputation firmly enhanced. Delivered by Clifford Lee to upstage Godolphin's 4-5 market-leader Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) heading out of the dip, the 2-1 second favourite who had taken the G3 Superior Mile earlier this month drew away to score by 2 1/4 lengths. "I'd say we've definitely got a Group 1 horse," trainer Karl Burke said. "I'd say Rosallion will...

There was much consternation when only three new Flat stallions retired to stand in Britain for the 2025 season. It remains to be seen whether this was a blip, but if it becomes a trend then obviously it is cause for concern. It is easy to understand why, in an increasingly commercial sphere, breeders would either flock to the proven elite (for those with mares good enough and pockets deep enough) or to the next first-season sire on the block who may be forgiven for a year or two until...

Wathnan's Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) loves nothing more than a trip overseas for a big prize and the grey was in the winning mood again on Saturday in Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes. Fresh from regaining her mojo in Deauville's Prix Rothschild last month, the Moyglare and Irish Guineas winner who had been second to Porta Fortuna in this 12 months ago outstayed Exactly (Frankel) in the run to the line to prevail by half a length. Atsila (Phoenix Of Spain) was 3/4 of a length away...

The signs are that the end of summer is bringing a new force into the reckoning in St Mark's Basilica and Coolmore's first-crop sire was at the forefront again on Thursday as his daughter Aylin captured Doncaster's G2 May Hill Stakes. Third last time in Goodwood's seven-furlong G3 Prestige Stakes, Al Shaqab and Amo Racing's 5-1 second favourite relished this stamina-sapping mile test and stayed on for David Egan to overhaul Pacific Mission (Lope De Vega) late on and score by 3/4 of a length. "I thought she was going...

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...

2nd-Newmarket, £10,000, Mdn, 8-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.68, g/f. EVOLUTIONIST (IRE) (f, 2, Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Model Guest {GB} {GSP-Eng}, by Showcasing {GB}), a €600,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 purchase who was too green on debut when fourth at Haydock last month, was an entirely different proposition this time breaking smartly to lead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to the line, the 13-8 favourite held Lyrics Of Life (Pinatubo) by a length, with that well-regarded Sangster & Babington-Meehan project in turn 4 1/4 lengths in front of Juddmonte's...

An entirely different proposition away from home soil, Wathnan Racing's Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) regained Danny Tudhope and her mojo on Sunday to pick up the winning thread again in Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild. Benefitting from the reestablishment of a connection that had been ruptured after her success in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last May, the 10-1 shot outstayed the 8-5 favourite January (Kingman) to prevail by a head for a first success in these silks. Start Of Day (Night Of Thunder) was 1 1/2 lengths away in third....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Zelaina. 2.10 Redcar, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 5f 217yT HYPNOTISED (GB) (No Nay Never) is a notable Juddmonte newcomer as a half-brother to the dual GI Diana Stakes heroine Whitebeam by Scat Daddy's Caravaggio. Harry Charlton trains the newcomer, as his...