Strength in depth bodes well for the rest of the season
| Published date | 01 June 2022 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
a priority. "Keeping the horses right is the number one challenge. If you do that everything else looks after itself."
With £879,421 already banked the Burke team have been consistent all year, as not only are the likes of El Caballo and Last Crusader hitting the target in top races, but his string of juveniles look particularly strong this season.
"I've been very lucky as we have attracted some powerful new owners and the horses I'm being sent are doing well.
"Dramatised has us all excited about her prospects for Royal Ascot, while others who have already run have looked very smart.
"The beauty is we have some seriously smart speedsters, but I also have a lot of horses who want further and some of them have really been catching my eye at home.
"The overall strength in depth throughout the team is very exciting and if we can keep them fit and healthy then who knows what they can achieve."
Older horses Eilean Dubh 4 b c Vadamos - Kenwana We got him from France over the winter and he looked a horse full of potential, particularly in a physical sense as he had plenty of growing and filling out to do. His first win for us was at Newcastle in March over 1m off 77, and he followed up last month at Hamilton over an extended mile. His most recent run at York was a big ask under 9st 7lb and off a career-high mark of 84 but he ran out an impressive winner
in what was a smart performance. I suppose he will go up to around 91 for that, which will rule him out of the Sunday Series races and the £100,000 bonus. I believe they have not allowed for horses improving which in effect makes it impossible for any horse to get the bonus. I understand that Sky Bet are speaking to the BHA about the last two meetings and maybe one of them over a mile be changed upwards for ratings. As it is he should get in the Royal Hunt Cup and then hopefully if things change then we could have a crack at the big bonus. Kelly's Dino 9 b g Doctor Dino - Sabolienne He has been a wonderful horse for the yard but has picked up more than his share of injuries over the time. After his run at Newmarket in June 2020 he picked up an injury which kept him off the track for two years, but his owners allowed us plenty of time to get him right and he returned to finish unplaced at Haydock last weekend. I would like to think he will be Royal Ascot-bound for either the 1m4f or 1m6f handicap and we also have an entry for him in the Northumberland Plate later this month.
Lord Of The Lodge 5 b h Dandy Man - Archetypal He is a lovely old fellow who is still an entire and running very well. He is having a break after a busy winter that saw him add to more wins to his career total as well as having some time in Dubai. It did not really work out at Meydan although he ran well enough. He should be back by the end of August and I think we will look to more races in the Middle East at the end of the year. He is still pretty amenable, and we have
never had any cause to have him gelded. I think he is capable of winning at Group 3/Listed level. Rebel At Dawn 4 b g Dandy Man - Ragtime Dancer A consistent sort who took his career tally to
three at Redcar thanks to a fine ride from William Buick, but he was a bit...
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