Karl Burke Hoping that His Promising two-year Olds Can Follow in the Footsteps of Laurens

Trainer Karl Burke looks to have another strong string of two-year-olds in training this season, and he'll be hoping that at least one of this exciting crop of youngsters can replicate the heroics of former stable star Laurens. The Group One-winner had been a flag-bearer for the North Yorkshire-based trainer since making a winning debut in September 2017, and with a number of promising three-year-olds also on his books, the Middleham trainer will be feeling quietly confident that one of his charges can emulate the recently retired filly.

What a superstar!

The Karl Burke trainer filly Laurens gets her fifth Group 1 in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes.

What a season she has had ðŸ‘ﾏðŸ‘ﾏ pic.twitter.com/fMUjcARFMU

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 6, 2018

Laurens' debut success was swiftly followed by a Group 2 triumph in the May Hill Stakes when beating Dark Rose Angel by a head. She kept on gamely under P J McDonald, and following an impressive winter on the all-weather, the Irish jockey is now 40/1 in the ante-post horse racing betting markets to come out on top in the 2020 Flat Jockey's Championship. He was also on board during her final outing, a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket back in October 2019. The filly will not return to the track as she has been retired. 

Very little is known about the trainer's army of newcomers this year, although plenty is expected of the likes of Amasova and Gift List. The latter is sired by Bated Breath, a horse who produced 12 stakes winners last season. His progeny include Simply Breathless, who has enjoyed success in the United States, and the David Lanigan trained Worth Waiting, who was victorious in five of his first ten starts on the turf. Other inmates such as H Bomb have slightly less eye-catching parentage, although his sire was successful in the 2014 Beverley Bullet. Inhaler could be another one to note, having been sired by Elzaam. The eleven-year-old also sired the extremely speedy Coolagh Forest who has been a regular winner at York.  

Although all eyes will be on Burke's unraced contingent later this summer, the trainer has also enjoyed plenty of success with older horses. Kelly's Dino was victorious at Newmarket last summer and also came close when racing on the all-weather at Deauville. Meanwhile, the incredibly talented Lord of the Lodge will be hoping to build upon a triumphant debut campaign which saw him go close in the Gimcrack. Living in the Past is also expected to kick on this year, despite having failed to shine in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf back in November. The Lowther Stakes runner-up is likely to come back refreshed following the winter break and will be hoping to strike again in 2020. 

🗣️ "Lord Of The Lodge has wintered really well, we're just sitting on our hands now and waiting for a programme."@Karl_Burke could still look to a 2000 Guineas trial with Lord Of The Lodge, once racing eventually resumes.

— Timeform (@Timeform) April 30, 2020

Karl Burke's yard continues to produce regular winners on the flat and the savvy trainer is raring to go with his latest string of talented two-year-olds. With another set of promising juveniles in regular training, he is expected to target some of this summer's most lucrative contests. With 85 two-year-old winners over the past five seasons, the Spigot Lodge-based handler will be expected to continue his fine record with newcomers, and he'll be desperately hoping that one of his charges can go on to emulate Laurens incredible success in Grade One events.