Tag Archive for: Owen Burrows

Raaheeb sparkles with comfortable victory on Ascot debut

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Raaheeb, a full-brother to the top-class pair of Baaeed and Hukum, made the perfect start to his career with a very smooth debut victory at Ascot.

Trained like Hukum by Owen Burrows, he was beginning life over seven furlongs in the Charbonnel et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes and drawn in stall one, Jim Crowley was out on a wing slightly before being able to angle in as part of a small group of three.

As they began to join up, Crowley moved his mount up on the outside stylishly and it just became a question of what he would find off the bridle.

The answer was plenty as Raaheeb (7-4 favourite) just had to be kept up to his work to beat Pompette, who had the benefit of a run, by a length and a quarter.

Paddy Power cut him to 16-1 from 25s for the Royal Lodge at Newmarket later this month but whether he runs there remains to be seen.

Burrows said: “It was a very pleasing debut. He’d done everything nicely at home but he was only just ready for a run and we managed to get him on the grass on Wednesday.

“I’ll be honest, I thought whatever he did today he’d take a massive step forward from as he’s still quite switched off at the moment, which is obviously a nice way to have them.

“I thought he did it very nicely and it was a professional performance as the draw wasn’t ideal, but he handled the soft ground well and Jim was very pleased.

“There’s mixed messages as to what trip he wants, given his brothers were very different. Jim think he’ll be a mile-and-a-quarter horse next year, maybe further but Richard Hills (Shadwell’s assistant racing manager) tells me Baaeed started off over a mile.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it and make a plan then. We’ll see if he switches on at home, if he does then we might step up (in class) but Jim emphasised whatever he did this year is a bonus, we won’t go overboard this year.

“He reminds me a lot of Hukum in his action yet Michael Hills (who works for William Haggas) was there with Richard today and said he looks a bit like Baaeed, but he’s a bigger horse than Baaeed now, he’s bigger than Hukum at this stage as well.”

In the closing Sodexo Live! Handicap, the Oisin Murphy-ridden favourite Excellent Echo appeared to clip heels and fell, bringing down Nordic Norm and Sam James.

A statement posted on X by Ascot read: “Unfortunately, following an incident during the seventh race today, Excellent Echo suffered a fatal injury. His jockey, Oisin Murphy, walked in and was fine.

“Nordic Norm was taken to the stables for further assessment with cuts and scratches. His jockey, Sam James, was conscious and treated by medical teams on the track and has been transferred to the hospital for further assessment.”

Anmaat team eager to take Irish Champion Stakes chance

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Anmaat is being readied for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week, with trainer Owen Burrows “desperate” to run his stable star for the first time since Royal Ascot.

A shock 40-1 winner of last season’s Qipco Champion Stakes, the seven-year-old has made it to the track only twice this term, filling the runner-up spot in both the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the following month.

Having since sidestepped the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International due to unsuitable ground, connections are hoping for some ease underfoot in Ireland to allow Anmaat to return to the fray.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “Owen is desperate to run him, touch wood he’s been pleased with the horse and we need to get him out really.

“You just can’t take a chance – he’s our best horse and we can’t afford to do the wrong thing by him with the autumn to come.

“They’ve had plenty of rain in Ireland recently, so I’m expecting he will be there, all being well.

“He’s shown already this year that he retains all his enthusiasm and ability, so hopefully we get him to Leopardstown in one piece.”

Anmaat is a general 7-1 shot for the Irish Champion Stakes, with Delacroix a 4-5 favourite with some firms following the news on Wednesday that Ombudsman will not run next week.

Rain – or lack of it – remains a pain for connections of Anmaat

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Anmaat appears unlikely to line up in next week’s Juddmonte International, despite the fact connections are “desperate to run him” on the Knavesmire.

Last season’s Champion Stakes hero has only been seen twice this season, pushing Los Angeles close in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland before finishing best of the rest behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having since sidestepped the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, trainer Owen Burrows and owners Shadwell are keen to run him at York, but underfoot conditions could again scupper his participation.

“We’re desperate to run him, but he won’t be there if it’s very fast ground and it doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of rain around,” said Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold.

“I was going to talk to Owen before confirmations. He says the horse is bouncing and he really wants to run him, but we’ve got the autumn ahead of us and at some stage the weather must turn.

“I fear we may not be there next week.”

Should Anmaat miss York, his next option appears to be be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month ahead of the planned defence of his Champion Stakes crown at Ascot in October.

Definitely on course for York, however, is Delacroix, with Aidan O’Brien still gobsmacked by the manner of his Sandown victory, where he reeled in Ombudsman from a seemingly impossible position.

“It was the most amazing thing I ever saw, I think. He could not win at the two-furlong marker, everything had gone sideways on him, and when Ryan (Moore) got him out he still had too much ground to make up,” the Ballydoyle trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“I think his times suggested no horse has ever covered the last two furlongs in an Eclipse the way he did and he won with his ears pricked.

“In the Derby he got taken out at the top of the hill and Ryan said it was race over straight away. We found it very easy to put a line through it, we thought a mile and a quarter was his distance and he’d two lovely runs before the Derby over a mile and a quarter.”

Royal Dubai continues perfect start for Burrows

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Royal Dubai continued his perfect start for trainer Owen Burrows as he pounced late to claim the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

Previously trained by Marco Botti, Royal Dubai switched to Burrows’ care after two unsuccessful British runs in April and June, but he struck gold in Listed company at Newbury on his yard debut last month.

Upped to Group Three level here, the 9-4 joint favourite was anchored towards the rear by Callum Rodriguez through the early stages but when the gaps came in the final furlong, Royal Dubai had the necessary speed to take advantage and pipped Military Order by a neck on the line, with Haunted Dream back in third.

Rodriguez told Racing TV: “It was a good performance. We were drawn on the inside, he’s a horse that enjoys a bit of cover and passing horses so we were never going to be in a rush.

“I was a little bit worried up the straight that we weren’t going to get the splits but he was all there for me when we did and he’s picked up well to the line.”

Suite Francaise benefited from a perfectly-judged front-running ride to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes.

Joe Fanning had the 15-2 shot smartly away and she never looked like being passed, claiming a two-length success over Never Let Go.

Winning trainer Charlie Johnston knows the family well with his father having trained the dam, Francophilia for owner Kirsten Rausing while Suite Francaise’s sister Francophone was a Listed victor for the trainer last term.

He was represented by his mother Deirdre, who said: “They’re all superstars and such lovely horses to have at home and look after. Joe said she was so quiet down at the start he was hoping she was all right as she was so well behaved.

“He said she was never going to get beat, she was out there in front, really enjoying it and when he kicked, off she went.

“It was fantastic. She’s done nothing wrong and black type is a big thing for Kirsten, we’ve got big black type but in Group company would be even better.”

Royal Dubai aiming to continue good start for Burrows at Haydock

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Owen Burrows is hopeful Royal Dubai can build on his winning start for the yard when he lines up for the Group Three Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

The five-year-old son of Seahenge joined Burrows from Marco Botti in June and quickly became popular with his new trainer, landing the Steventon Stakes at Newbury less than a month later.

After defeating Rashabar by a length in that Listed contest in Berkshire, Burrows is keen to continue that momentum as Royal Dubai targets a maiden Pattern success at Haydock on Saturday.

“He’s come out of Newbury very well and I’m very pleased with him so it looks a nice, logical next step,” he said.

“I think we only had him about a month or so before, so he settled in like an old pro and it was a very pleasing start.

“We’ve got to go up in grade and I feel it’s a very trappy, very tight race on Saturday, so let’s see what happens.

“We obviously stepped him up in trip, it looked to suit at Newbury so hopefully he can keep progressing.”

Haatem returns to 10 furlongs having dropped down to a mile last time out after winning the Wolferton Stakes for Richard Hannon.

“I think 10 furlongs is his best trip now and obviously he won the Wolferton Stakes well at Royal Ascot,”said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“I think going back up to that distance is going to put everything in his favour and hopefully he can run a big race.”

Charlie Appleby is doubly represented, through Military Order – who is a full-brother to Derby and King George hero Adayar – and First Conquest.

“Military Order ran a very creditable race at Royal Ascot (sixth in the Wolferton) and likes the combination of quick ground over a mile and a quarter,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told the Godolphin website.

“This will hopefully tell is whether he is a horse for something like the Bahrain International Trophy later in the year.

“First Conquest goes into this in great order and stepping back up to a mile and a quarter will hopefully suit. If he runs to the level of his Dubai form earlier in the year, he should be very competitive.”

Wathnan have another dart in the extended mile-and-a-quarter race with Hamad Al Jehani’s Haunted Dream, while Certain Lad runs for Jack Channon.

The green and pink silks of Juddmonte have market leader Detain, trained by John and Thady Gosden, and Harry Charlton’s Okeechobee to complete the eight-runner field.

Waardah far from certain to go to York

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Waardah looks set to bypass the Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire and head straight to Qipco British Champions Day should the drying weather continue for Owen Burrows’ star filly.

The three-year-old daughter of Postponed stepped up to a mile and six furlongs for the first time with ease as she held off Danielle to secure the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood last week.

That success put her in the conversation for the Group One contest during the Ebor Festival at York, but the lack of cut in the ground has cast doubt over Waardah’s participation.

However, the Farncombe Down trainer is unfazed at a potential three-month wait for her return at Ascot, if she does not get her preferred conditions.

“She’s come out Goodwood well,” Burrows said. “She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks, that might come a bit quick to be honest and looking at the weather she does like to get her toe in a little bit.

“There’s no significant rain anywhere through until the end of next week and I think the Fillies & Mares at Ascot is tailormade for her with near enough guaranteed soft ground, so I’ll probably work my way back from that.

“If she’s having to go straight there, then so be it. If we can get another one into her then great, that’s a bonus.”

Waardah steps up to take Lillie Langtry honours

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A step up in distance and class proved to be no barrier to success for the improving Waardah in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood.

The Owen Burrows-trained filly impressed when landing a 10-furlong Listed event at this venue in early June, but she faced another half a mile and better opposition in this Group Two contest.

Ridden by Callum Rodriguez, Waardah was a well supported 7-2 chance at the off and after travelling smoothly into contention early in the home straight, she was coaxed to the front heading inside the final two furlongs.

Her stamina was given a thorough examination, with the the gallant Danielle refusing to go down without a fight, but Waardah saw her off and passed the post three-quarters of a length in front.

Rodriguez, who was one of five jockeys involved in a dramatic emergency landing on Thursday after the light aircraft in which they were travelling to Goodwood suffered what was thought to have been an engine problem, told ITV Racing: “It was a messy start to the week, but we made sure that we were on four wheels today!

“I’m very pleased to get that one off my back. She is a rapidly improving filly and has a nice way of racing. It was a very good performance.”

Waardah and Callum Rodriguez return to the Goodwood winner's enclosure
Waardah and Callum Rodriguez return to the Goodwood winner’s enclosure (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Burrows told Racing TV: “I thought she handled it all very well. Callum said she switched off great and in hindsight he said he probably got there a bit soon, but we’re still learning about her because she’s inexperienced.

“I thought she was very honest when the second horse came to her, I thought she was possibly going to get outstayed, but in the last half a furlong she was going away again.

“I felt she’d come forward from her last run here, her work at home had been very good, we thought we’d roll the dice and thankfully it’s come off.

“She’d have no trouble going back to a mile and a half and she’s an exciting filly. She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks, I think it is important she gets a bit of juice in the ground. We’ll see how she comes out of this, but Ascot in October (Champions Day) would suit her.”

Thady Gosden, joint trainer of runner-up Danielle, was delighted with her effort on what was her seasonal bow.

He said: “She is a very genuine filly who gives her all. That was a pleasing race first time back. The winner is a nice filly. Stepping up in trip has benefited her.

“We have been avoiding quicker ground with her but after the rain we had on Thursday, it suited her even though it was drying.

“The Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster would be a natural step with her.”

Falakeyah enjoying a break before autumn return

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Plans are on ice for Falakeyah, who is currently on a mid-season break before returning for an autumn campaign.

Talked about as a Classic contender after excelling in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the season, Owen Burrows’ ace filly disappointed when next seen after being supplemented for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In the aftermath of Ascot, Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes had been mooted as a possible place for the daughter of New Bay to seek redemption, but with her name missing from the entries for that Group One event Burrows revealed she is enjoying some down time at present.

Burrows said: “She’s back at Shadwell having a break at the moment and all being well will be back with me at the beginning of August.

“I wasn’t totally 100 per cent happy with her after Ascot, she was possibly too keen and possibly the ground was too quick. We were sort of clutching at straws a bit but thought a bit of a break would do her good.

“Hopefully we’ll get her back for a bit of an autumn campaign, we’ll see how she is and see what she’s telling me.”

One of Burrows’ string who could be seen a little sooner is the exciting Gethin, who earned quotes for the Derby after downing subsequent London Gold Cup winner Saddadd at Newbury in the spring.

A setback scuppered any Classic ambitions but his trainer is eyeing an eagerly-awaited return in the coming month.

Burrows continued: “He’s going to start half-speed work again next week and (a return at) the end of August time I’ve got planned for him all being well.”

Meanwhile, the wait for the weather to change for Champion Stakes hero Anmaat continues, with the Juddmonte International Stakes the next top-level event the Lambourn handler has on his radar.

Burrows said: “He’s in grand form and hopefully by York we get a proper drop of rain.”

Royal Dubai relishes extra distance on first start for Owen Burrows

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A hunch from Owen Burrows to explore options at 10 furlongs paid dividends, as new recruit Royal Dubai thrived over the extra yardage in the BetVictor Steventon Stakes at Newbury.

Previously trained by Marco Botti, the five-year-old has been a consistent operator in good company at distances around a mile, but after a switch to Lambourn to join Burrows, he tried a mile and a quarter for the first time since his three-year-old days.

The 10-1 outsider of five in the hands of Callum Rodriguez, he relished conditions to see off Brian Meehan’s 5-2 chance Rashabar for Listed honours, teeing up further action at this trip.

Burrows said: “I’m very fortunate to get him, he’s been with us a month and came in great shape from Marco’s.

“The owner sportingly left it to me and I just felt at a mile he was looking exposed and with his pedigree it might be worth trying him over a little bit further again.

“He had a fair bit to find at the ratings and we were hoping for a drop more rain, but it was really pleasing and I’m still learning about him to be honest.

“He’s a Listed winner now and we’ll have to look at the programme book, but there’s the Rose of Lancaster (at Haydock) on August 9 which we could have a look at and this is just a great start.”

Ralph Beckett’s 6-4 favourite Egoli could have booked a return to York or a trip to the Qatar Goodwood Festival after confirming the promise of his previous Knavesmire victory in the Run For Your Money At BetVictor EBF Novice Stakes.

Beckett said: “I like him, he’s a nice horse. He’s in the Gimcrack Stakes at York for a reason and I would like to go back there. When he won there last time he was impressive.

“He might have an entry for the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood as well, although I’m not sure that would be his track. He’s quite a heavy shouldered horse and I’m not sure it will suit him and it might want a bit of juice in the ground there for him to go there.

“We’ve all had No Nay Nevers which are fidgety, but he’s not, he just eats and sleeps and is a lovely sort of horse.

“He was very professional today and he goes well. It takes a good horse to win a Newbury novice under a penalty. Hopefully there is more to come and he’s one to look forward to, I think. There’s a bit of size and scope to him, so he shouldn’t be just a two-year-old either.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Consent (11-2) defied a near 300-day absence to land the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes in the hands of Luke Morris.

Prescott said of the Denford Stud-owned winner: “She’s always been rather flighty, she went back to Denford in the winter and they’ve done a great job. She’s been slow to come in her coat, she’s just come right the last month.

“She’s got ability and a proper pedigree. She’s in all those races, which when you make the entries you think you might look mad in a few weeks, but she’s in them all. She’s an interesting animal.”

Rain required for next Anmaat adventure

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Owen Burrows is praying for rain before he firms up plans for the smart Anmaat.

The seven-year-old ended last season on a high when getting up late to beat Calandagan and win the Champion Stakes at Ascot, and this season has had to settle for silver twice in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Burrows felt the going in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown was not to his liking so swerved that engagement and wants some cut in the ground before sending the son of Awtaad back to the racecourse.

He said: “He’s all good, all very good. We’re just praying for a little drop of rain at some stage.

“I don’t feel he’s done anything wrong in either run. I thought it was a bit quick at Sandown and when it went good to firm, firm in places, I was quite pleased that I wasn’t tempted.

“We’re sort of working back from Ascot, he’s in really good form so it would be nice if we did get some rain and we could get him out again.

“We’ll have a look at the Juddmonte International, it would be ground dependent and there’s obviously Ireland (Irish Champion Stakes) as well, but that’s not until September so we’ll just have to see.

“There’s a bit of rain about this weekend I believe, but how long that will last – who knows? We’ll just have to play it by ear.”

Remmooz is likely to remain in handicap company after being raised 4lb for his York victory in the John Smith’s Racing Handicap.

The Blue Point colt is three from four, with his one defeat coming at Group level in the Jersey Stakes, and Burrows is keen to make the best of his rating for the time being.

Burrows said: “Obviously he’d run a tidy enough race at Ascot and up in grade we felt the mile at York would suit him, not so much get him back on track because I don’t feel he’d come off track, but it was nice to get another win under his name.

“He’s a progressive horse who was unraced as a two-year-old. He’s got a decent profile and they put him up 4lb, so he’s 102 now. Fingers crossed we can keep going the right way.

“I might give him one more shot in a handicap to be honest, I’ve not fully decided yet.

“I still feel off 102 we could be competitive in one of those nice handicaps, I’m not 100 per cent certain but it would be more than likely that we would give him one more shot in a handicap.”

Burrows looking forward to having Gethin back in the mix

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One-time Derby hope Gethin is on track to make a return to the racecourse towards the back end of next month.

The Owen Burrows-trained grey won well on debut in a Nottingham novice on heavy ground before being far too good for Roger Varian’s Saddadd at Newbury to put him on track for the premier Classic.

Saddadd subsequently franked that form in the London Gold Cup and Burrows was frustrated his son of Ghaiyyath suffered a setback that has sidelined him since April.

The Lambourn handler said: “He’ll be back towards the back end of August. He’s back doing plenty of cantering, but I’m not going to rush him so we’ll be looking for the second half of August, I would have thought.”

Burrows was impressed by Gethin’s Newbury victory and is confident he now has the three-year-old back on the right track after a three-month absence.

He added: “That was a pretty smart performance, I know Roger thinks a lot of his horse that won the race at Newbury (London Gold Cup), that sort of three-year-old handicap which notoriously throws up Group horses.

“It was a bit annoying that he had a little setback after that, but as I say he’s doing plenty of cantering now so touch wood we can keep kicking with him.”

Connections looking to to see the real Falakeyah next time out

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Connections of Falakeyah are keen to put a line through her disappointing performance at Royal Ascot, with Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes identified as a potential stage for redemption.

Having bolted up on her Wolverhampton debut in November, the Owen Burrows-trained filly looked every inch a top-class performer in the making when running away with Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes on her return to action in the spring.

After sidestepping the Oaks at Epsom and being ruled out of the French equivalent, Falakeyah dropped back to a mile for the Coronation Stakes, but ended up racing too enthusiastically for her own good on the front end before weakening in the home straight.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “It was a pity, as I was very pleased with her before the race. She settled beforehand, I thought, she was good and calm in the ring and Jim (Crowley) said she went down brilliantly relaxed.

“I’ve only seen the replay once, but it looked to me like for the first 50 or 60 yards of the race she was OK and then when Hollie (Doyle, riding Duty First) came upsides her she just put her head in the air and took off basically. It just set her alight and that was it.

“On a hot day like that, she was never going to be able to keep going at that pace, so we’ll just give her a bit of time. We didn’t learn anything regarding distance or anything like that, all we learnt was she’s not going to win races if she races like that.”

He added: “We know she’s considerably better than that, her work at home is very high class and that run didn’t bare any resemblance to her work at home. We’ll obviously have to try to settle her next time and maybe we’ll have a look at something like the Nassau. We’ll just see how everyone feels nearer the time.

“At home she settles beautifully and is quite happy to take a lead and doesn’t fight the jockey, so we’ve just got to get her to do that on the racecourse if she’s going to have any chance of finishing off her races.”

Falakeyah putting mile credentials to the test against Zarigana

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Falakeyah and Zarigana lock horns in a fascinating clash for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

The Owen Burrows-trained Falakeyah looked every inch a top-class filly in the making when dominating her rivals in the 10-furlong Pretty Polly at Newmarket, after which the Betfred Oaks at Epsom and the French equivalent were mooted as potential Classic targets.

However, with connections ultimately deciding against stepping up to a mile and a half at Epsom and the Prix de Diane also ruled out, the daughter of New Bay will instead drop back to a mile on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting after being supplemented for the Coronation at a cost of £46,000.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: “It was a hard decision to supplement, just because of the amount of money involved. I just felt when the entries for the race closed we’d be looking at a mile and a quarter at least for her given she had won over an extended mile on her debut.

“I said to Owen I was just trying to save money and that there was no point even entering her if we thought she was going to be running over further.”

While Gold admits to having doubts about how effective Falakeyah will be dropping back in trip, he is taking some confidence from the feedback of Shadwell’s retained rider Jim Crowley.

“To Jim’s credit, he kept saying every time he sat on her that she had a lot of speed and his first words to me having got off her at Newmarket were ‘she’d have killed them over a mile’. He thought she’d have gone close in the Guineas had she run in that, so I had to take notice,” Gold added.

Jim Crowley on board Falakeyah after winning the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes
Jim Crowley on board Falakeyah after winning the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Unfortunately we were going for the Prix de Diane but then she had a hold-up and we ran out of time. They now feel she’s back to her best.

“We could have waited a month for the Falmouth but as she’s well we’ve taken the chance.

“She likes to get on with things so that is probably contributing to the fact she looks like she’s got a lot of speed.

“It’s only her third race so we’re still learning and I couldn’t put my hand on my heart and say she’s definitely a miler, but she has plenty of speed and we felt after discussing it this was worth a try.”

The trip is of no concern to French raider Zarigana, who has won four of her five starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan.

She was most recently awarded the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards’ room after first past the post Shes Perfect was deemed to have caused sufficient interference for the placings to be revised – and while connections are hoping for a bold showing in Berkshire, they are taking nothing for granted.

Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan’s French studs, said: “Zarigana worked well last week, she’s in good form and we’ve been very happy with her since the Pouliches.

“It is a competitive race and it’s the first time she’ll have to travel abroad and she can have moments where she gets quite worked up. It looks like it’s going to be very hot as well, but she’s got to get through all that as part of the test of being a Group One filly.

“She’s very consistent – she’s won four of her starts and was beaten a nose in the other one. This is a big test for her and she’s got to maintain that form and hold it all together in the preliminaries and have luck in running and everything else.

“If there’s any weakness it will be found out, but we’re happy with her preparation and while she goes on anything, she’s probably better on fast ground.”

Further strength in depth is added by Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly, who was little over a length behind Zarigana when fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches last month, while the also-supplemented Kon Tiki puts her unbeaten record on the line for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Anmaat gives his all in honourable defeat

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Owen Burrows was proud of Anmaat after his stable star went down fighting in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot – and is already eyeing a return to the course on British Champions Day.

A shock 40-1 winner of the Qipco Champion Stakes over course and distance last season, the seven-year-old once again proved he belongs at the top-level when pushing the reopposing Los Angeles all the way on his return to action in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month.

With improvement anticipated, hopes for Anmaat were high ahead of his return to Berkshire – but while he turned the tables on the 13-8 favourite Los Angeles, who was beaten into fifth, the Burrows runner had no answer to the finishing kick of 7-1 winner Ombudsman and had to make do with the silver medal.

“He’s an absolute star and he’s done us proud and there’s not a lot of excuses really,” said Burrows.

“He’s come there to win, just credit to John’s horse who has picked up a bit better than us.

“There wasn’t really a moment I thought he would win today and I thought more so in Ireland. He obviously travelled great, but I could see William (Buick) was in a bit of a pocket and was trying to get a bit of room and always looked like he had a little bit left.

“I think we know he has a preference for a bit of juice in the ground but Jim (Crowley) said I can’t use that as an excuse. Possibly he can quicken on softer ground when others can’t, but I’m not making any excuses.”

Anmaat holds entries for both the Coral-Eclipse (Sandown, July 5) and Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown, September 13), with York’s Juddmonte International Stakes on August 20 also a plausible option.

However, it is a Champion Stakes defence on October 19 which is prominent in Burrows’ thoughts.

“The Eclipse has been mentioned but that may be too soon and we’ll have to see how he comes out of this,” continued Burrows.

“Then there’s York and the Irish Champion Stakes. But I think back here in October will be his main aim and all being well he should have some juice in the ground by then.

“He’s run in two Group Ones now this season, finished second both times and not done an awful lot wrong. I’m very proud of him.”

A place behind Anmaat in third was Andrew Balding’s See The Fire, who was supplemented into the race at a cost of £70,000 after a runaway win at York in the Middleton Stakes.

Another to be thrilled with his charge’s performance, Balding now plans to return his star filly to competing against her own sex and she will now attempt to go one place better than last year’s narrow second in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (July 31).

“I’m thrilled and it’s probably a career-best performance,” said Balding.

“She’ll have a little break now and head towards the Nassau which has always been her main objective really. She ran well in it last year and I think being back against her own sex will help her cause.”

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien will give beaten favourite Los Angeles a full MOT after tasting defeat for the first time this season.

He added: “We’ll take him back and see how he is. You wouldn’t take anything away from the others but you wouldn’t think that wasn’t his true running.

“The King George might come a bit quick after a run like that, Jan Brueghel might come into that job.”

Falakeyah added to Coronation field for Zarigana clash

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Falakeyah has been supplemented for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot to set up a mouthwatering clash with French ace Zarigana.

Owen Burrows’ unbeaten filly dazzled when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last month, putting herself in the picture for both the Oaks and the French equivalent which will be run at Chantilly on Sunday.

However, after deciding against Epsom, a dirty scope ruled her out of France, with connections now taking the plunge to drop back to a mile with their supremely talented daughter of New Bay.

In a statement on shadwellstud.com, the owners racing manager Angus Gold said: “Jim (Crowley) has been saying all spring ‘this filly has plenty of speed’ and she showed that when she won at Newmarket on her first start of the year.

“Once we had decided not to stretch her stamina to a mile and a half in the Oaks, the next option was the Prix de Diane. However, she did not scope clean two weeks ago, so Owen and the team gave her time and sorted it out, but the net result was the timescale proved too tight to get her back to peak fitness for the Diane, especially with the travelling over to France.

“Owen feels she is now back to where she was before the dirty scope. He’s very happy with her and together we feel the Coronation is the right race for her now. Jim believes she has the pace to be competitive at a mile at that level. She’s definitely got a lot of class, and we are looking forward to Friday.”

Falakeyah could ultimately prove the biggest challenge to Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zarigana, the grandaughter of the great Zarkava who was awarded the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in the stewards room at ParisLongchamp after a late tussle with Charlie Fellowes’ Shes Perfect.

Shes Perfect also stands her ground but is poised for the challenge of the Prix de Diane on Sunday, while the same applies to Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story and Merrily who also feature amongst the confirmations for Friday’s Group One.

Ballydoyle have also confirmed Exactly and January, while Ralph Beckett could be represented by 1000 Guineas fifth Chantilly Lace and the Amo Racing-owned Cathedral.

Ollie Sangster’s Flight and Simmering finished ahead of Chantilly Lace in second and third respectively behind Desert Flower at Newmarket and could leave below par efforts in the Irish version of the Guineas behind here.

Meanwhile, Joseph Murphy’s Cercene and Archie Watson’s Duty First were two to thrive at the Curragh when third and fourth and are also amongst the Ascot possibles.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s unbeaten York scorer Kon Tiki joins Falakeyah in being supplemented into the field at a cost of £46,000, while Ger Lyons’ Red Letter completes the list of 15 going forward.