Tag Archive for: Owen Burrows

Cracking end to the year leaves Burrows with much to look forward to

Owen Burrows is looking forward to 2025 with relish after a stellar end to the season.

Despite Deira Mile finishing fourth in the both the Derby and St Leger, Burrows was a little down on winners and especially prize-money heading into the final weeks of the season.

Then he saw Nakheel win the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, Anmaat take the Champion Stakes in spectacular fashion and Raqiya score at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.

“The last few weeks have been incredible. I’d been happy enough with how the season had gone up to then, but without Hukum we were down on winners and prize-money,” said Burrows.

Deira Mile going down to the start for the Derby
Deira Mile going down to the start for the Derby (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“I felt we’d still been punching above our weight a little, Deira Mile was fourth in the Derby and the St Leger, but our two-year-olds were backwards, we’ve still got half a dozen or so to run.

“Grabbing a winner at Del Mar was great and obviously Nakheel won the Park Hill and she stays in training next year.

“We’ll be looking to get some Group One black type for her now. Cut in the ground is important to her so she probably won’t run much in the summer, and the step up in trip has helped so she won’t be running over less than a mile and a half.

“If everything goes well you could see her ending up in the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day.”

There is no debate about his star performer, though.

Anmaat swoops late under Jim Crowley to win the Champion Stakes
Anmaat swoops late under Jim Crowley to win the Champion Stakes (Nigel French/PA)

“Anmaat was the undoubted highlight, he’ll be seven next year but he stays in training and he’s never been over-raced,” he said.

“We had a clear run this season with him and he showed what he could do. Obviously he disappointed in France when Jim (Crowley) admitted he probably made his ground up too soon on the wrong part of the track, but they can all have an off-day.

“We had him checked over when he got back, all the signs were good and I’m just grateful Sheikha Hissa (owner) let us run him again just two weeks later.

“Turning into the straight I could see he was still travelling but had nowhere to go – I might have let a few swear words go at my wife! But he did well to pick up again after being almost flattened. He’s a very honest horse.

“All those top 10-furlong races are there for him next year. He’s won nine of his 15 races, which is some record.”



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Alflaila ‘showing all the right signs’ for Bahrain trip

Owen Burrows is aiming to carry on a strong finish to the year for his yard with another major success when Alflaila runs in the Bahrain International Trophy next Friday.

Having been down on winners and prize-money approaching the autumn, Burrows has ended in a blaze of glory with Anmaat winning the Champion Stakes, Nakheel the Park Hill and Raqiya scoring at Del Mar on the Breeders’ Cup undercard.

Alflaila, not seen since a rare disappointing run in the Juddmonte International in August, was an intended runner in Bahrain last year but an injury picked up while already there prevented him from taking part.

“The plan is to run and he ships out on Friday night,” said Burrows.

“Jim (Crowley) had a sit on him this week and was very happy with him. They can all have an off-day and that is what we are putting York down to. He missed the break and never got involved.

“I suppose because he’s never had an off-day previously it caught us out a bit, but they can all have them.

“He’s never been over-raced, though, and he’s showing all the right signs again at home. If he can get back to the form of his Group Two win at York or even his Royal Ascot run when only three lengths behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s, which was his first run of the year, you’d have to think he’d go close.

“The race is worth £1million this year, it’s a proper Group Two with some nice horses going for it. We wanted to run him in it last year, but he had a setback when we were already there.”



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Outsider Anmaat stuns Champion Stakes field

Anmaat stunned the field to sweep to a surprise victory in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

A 40-1 chance for Owen Burrows and Jim Crowley, the bay was overlooked in the build-up to the contest as it was presumed to be a clash between Economics and Calandagan.

The latter horse was making progress on the inside up the straight, but picking his way through the field behind him was Anmaat.

Crowley was forced to wait for a gap to launch his challenge, but when the space came, Anmaat showed a fine turn of pace to seize the opportunity.

He then swept past 6-4 favourite Calandagan in the dying strides to win by half a length, with 25-1 shot Royal Rhyme back in third.

Anmaat (right) challenged wide at Ascot
Anmaat (right) challenged wide at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)

Anmaat previously tasted Group One glory in last year’s Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp but subsequently suffered an injury that kept him on the sidelines for 439 days.

The six-year-old was restored to full health by the Shadwell team and Burrows, prevailing in a Haydock Group Three on his return before disappointing in the Prix Dollar back in Paris earlier this month.

Burrows said: “We’ve always thought a lot of this horse and I know it’s easy for me to say it now, but I quite fancied him for the Eclipse last year after he won in France.

“Of course, he picked up that complex foot injury which kept him off for the rest of last season and the first part of this.

“He disappointed in France two weeks ago but I felt it was a muddling race, Jim said he could have ridden him a bit better so as long as he was OK, which he was, Sheikha Hissa (of Shadwell) very kindly said we could roll the dice again and she’s been vindicated.”

Ascot has been a happy hunting ground for Burrows, with the Shadwell-owned Hukum winning last year’s King George, and the trainer felt the market had underestimated his contender.

He said: “That was a massive performance, I felt. It’s up there with Hukum winning the King George as my best ever day – Ascot’s quite a lucky place for me!

“There were a few people who rang me this morning who couldn’t believe what sort of price he was – it was the first time he’d ever been out of the first three and I felt he had excuses.

“I’m not a betting man, but I thought 33-1 was a solid each-way price.

“He was locked away and I’ll be honest halfway up the straight I put my binoculars down, I thought he had no chance.

Winning connections at Ascot
Winning connections at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)

“Then it looked like he’d got a bit of room and he’d be placed but to pick up like he did in the ground. Like Jim said, all the time he was locked away he was actually filling him up because he couldn’t do anything so it sometimes works in your favour.

“Of course you still need the luck then to get the gap and it worked out well.”

Burrows is unsure what the plan will be with Anmaat now, given he only started his season in August.

He added: “He’s taken some big scalps today, it’s that time of year I suppose and we are a fresh horse, it’s only his third run.

“It’s massive to have winners on a day like today. Whether he goes abroad or not, we’ll have to see.”



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Gethin makes promising start at Nottingham

Owen Burrows could have a smart prospect on his hands after Gethin relished the deep Nottingham conditions to land the British EBF Future Stayers Oath Novice Stakes with authority.

Sent off at 9-2 in the hands of Callum Rodriguez, Gethin proved a cut above the opposition over the extended mile, always travelling kindly for his rider and storming six-lengths clear of Ralph Beckett’s 6-4 favourite Holborn.

While most trainers’ attention was focussed on the Book One action at Tattersalls, Burrows made the trip to Colwick Park and was delighted to watch the son of Ghaiyyath claim a race that has gone the way of recent Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane in its short history.

Burrows said: “He had been showing up nicely at home. I would never gallop a horse in ground as soft as this, but he worked on ground as soft as I would be willing to gallop a horse on and he got through it well.

“Before you try you can never be sure for definite, but he’s got plenty of knee action and Callum said he got through it well. He’s certainly a nice horse for the future.

“I wouldn’t say this ground is essential, he possibly won’t want it very fast but then not a lot of horses like him would. He’s worked fine in better ground at home.

“Obviously it’s very hard in this ground and some of the others might not have gone in it, so we won’t get too carried away just yet. But you couldn’t be any more pleased by the way he’s travelled through the race and then picked up well. He was a bit green in front, but he was entitled to be.”

He added: “Let’s see he takes this and we will have a chat and see (if he runs again this year). He’s been showing up nicely at home so it’s nice when they can come and vindicate what you have been seeing.”

Beckett may have been denied with Holborn, but claimed the other novice event on the card as the Clipper Logistics-owned Arctic Voyage produced a taking display in the Fireworks Tickets On Sale Now EBF Novice Stakes.

Arctic Voyage got off the mark at Nottingham
Arctic Voyage got off the mark at Nottingham (PA)

Third in similar conditions at Newbury on debut, the Kingman colt was always moving smoothly through the ground for Danny Tudhope and galloped on to score by six and a half lengths at odds of 3-1.

“He handled the ground and he coped with the ground at Newbury on debut,” said former trainer Joe Tuite, who is now assistant to Beckett.

“In his first run he was very green and babyish and he travelled so well so we have come back a furlong and he’s handled conditions nicely.

“I think he’s a nice horse and we’ve always liked him. He’s always gone through the motions nicely at home, but they also have to come and do it racing and he’s done that nicely there.

“It will be up to the boss if he runs again, but he might come back out. He’s a small, handy horse so he might come back out.”



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Anmaat in rude health as he bids for Prix Dollar repeat

Anmaat will attempt to continue his ParisLongchamp love affair when he tries to regain the Qatar Prix Dollar crown on Saturday.

Owen Burrows’ six-year-old is unbeaten in two starts in the French capital and having won this prize two years ago, he also scooped Group One honours in the the Prix d’Ispahan in 2023.

However, he was unable to build on that first top-level success as injury kept him on the sidelines for 439 days afterwards.

The son of Awtaad showed the fire still burns when making a winning return in Haydock’s Rose of Lancaster Stakes and having skipped the red-hot Irish Champion Stakes last month, now heads to his favourite place on the continent in search of further riches.

“I think they are really, really happy with him, touch wood, I don’t want to jinx him. Everyone has been thrilled with him,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell.

“He’s done incredibly well, the horse, because he had a pretty nasty injury in one of his feet and a lot of horses wouldn’t have come back from it at all. He was out at the stud for best part of a year.

“He came back and won, so we gave him a bit of time after that just because he had a hard enough run there, but his weight is good, he really loves his work and is a fantastic character.”

Gold went on: “He absolutely loves what he does and hopefully again he is going into it fresher than most, obviously it is a strong contest, as it should be, with some good three-year-olds in there.

“I’m not going to say he’s going to win, but if he can reproduce his form he won’t be far away.”

William Haggas saddled Dubai Honour to win this in 2021 and attempts to repeat the feat with My Prospero, with his victory over Jack Channon’s Certain Lad in Windsor’s Winter Hill Stakes given a boost on French soil recently.

It was Haggas’ Economics who prevented Jayarebe building on his Royal Ascot triumph in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, but Brian Meehan takes plenty of comfort from seeing what his colt’s conqueror did at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes ahead of another cross-Channel assignment.

Sean Levey aboard Jayarebe after winning at Royal Ascot
Sean Levey aboard Jayarebe after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“He’s in great form and the form is working out well, I couldn’t be happier with him really,” said Meehan.

“It was a really good performance at Deauville and he’s in great form. It would be wonderful if he could run well again, he’s been a great horse for us to have this year and it looks a great next step for him on Saturday.”

Ed Walker’s Almaqam was a place behind Jayarebe at Deauville on his first try at 10 furlongs and will have the assistance of Ryan Moore as he returns to his preferred soft ground.

Carlos and Yann Lerner will warm-up for Look De Vega’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid by saddling the hat-trick seeking Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Calif, while Andre Fabre’s pair of First Look and Bir Castle complete the field.

Andre Fabre will saddle two in the Prix Dollar
Andre Fabre will saddle two in the Prix Dollar (John Walton/PA

First Look split Arc candidates Look De Vega and Sosie when second in the Prix du Jockey Club earlier in the year, but has failed to reach the same heights in two outings since, now sporting the colours of Wathnan Racing.

The owner’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “Without a shadow of a doubt he is a good horse and we gave him a good break after Ascot. We probably ran him back too quickly after the Prix du Jockey Club at Ascot and we gave him a break.

“I thought it was a good race he ran back in at the course last month and Andre said he would come on for it. This is a hard task but hopefully he has got a chance of placing. It fits well and is the right trip and Andre is confident he will come forward plenty.”



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Deira Mile might have done enough for this year

A winter break may be next for St Leger fourth Deira Mile, although a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is still not entirely out of the question.

Owen Burrows’ Camelot colt was also fourth in the Derby at Epsom behind City Of Troy, Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles.

After a quiet time over the height of summer, he then returned to action in the Listed August Stakes at Windsor to finish second by a neck after 84 days away from the track.

His next assignment was the the final Classic of the season and a step up to a trip of just over a mile and six furlongs at Doncaster.

On Town Moor he was a 28-1 chance under Jason Watson, eventually crossing the line in third place before being later demoted to fourth by the stewards for bumping into Sunway.

The Betfred Derby Festival – Derby Day – Epsom Downs Racecourse
Deira Mile and Jim Crowley ahead of the Derby (John Walton/PA)

The Arc was mentioned in the aftermath as a possible next target, and though it is not ruled out altogether there is also a likelihood the horse may have run his last race this year.

“We’re just seeing whether or not he’s done for the year, we’ll review it through the week. I’ll have a chat with the owner and we’ll see,” said Burrows.

“He did mentioned straight afterwards that he wouldn’t mind running him in the Arc, but we’ll see how he is and decide if we wouldn’t mind just saving him for next season.

“That might just be enough for him for the year, I don’t think we’d want to be travelling any further afield so if not the Arc, that will definitely be it for him this season.

“He’s proven he’s not far off the top level, he was fourth in the Derby, third – well, fourth – in the Leger and only beaten a length and a half.

“In an ideal world we could have done with a stronger gallop and typically, 24 hours later it tipped it down and we would have appreciated that, but that’s the way it goes and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do next year.”

Betfred St Leger Festival – Ladies Day – Doncaster Racecourse
Nakheel ridden by Jim Crowley (right) winning the Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

A winter break may also await stablemate Nakheel, who was a decisive winner of the Group Two Park Hill Stakes over the same St Leger trip.

The Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Arc weekend could be an option and supplementing the filly at a late stage is not out of the question.

“It’s still up in the air, she seems fine afterwards but she’s only had a couple of canters just to see how she is,” said Burrows.

“Sheikh Ahmed is keen to keep her in training next year so again, she might just have done enough for this year.

“There is the race in France on Arc weekend, we’ll just see how she is, she’s not entered in it but we’d only have to supplement her a few days before so that will give us plenty of time to assess her and see how she is.

“She’s a well-bred filly who can only improve for another winter on her back, she only had the one run at two and she’s another one we can really look forward to.”



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Anmaat chasing Dollar signs again in Paris

Owen Burrows’ Anmaat has a Prix Dollar return on his agenda after sidestepping the Irish Champion Stakes.

The six-year-old returned from a 439-day absence to land the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock in early August, in what was an impressive comeback considering the length of his layoff.

He is a horse with clear ability, and to his name he has a prior Rose of Lancaster victory, the Group One Prix d’Ispahan and the Prix Dollar title from 2022.

The latter race will now be his next port of call at Longchamp in October as connections chose to forgo the Irish Champion Stakes at the weekend in favour of another trip to Paris.

Should that run go to plan Burrows’ attention will then turn to Qipco British Champions Day, where the Shadwell-owned Anmaat holds an entry for the Champion Stakes.

“Anmaat’s going to go to the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend,” he said.

“That’s the plan for him, and then if all went well he could go for the Champion Stakes a few weeks later.

“We’ll get France out of the way first and keep our fingers crossed.

“We felt the Irish Champion would have been throwing him to the wolves a little bit, he’s a Group One winner already but we liked the idea of giving him the Group Two race and then, all being well, he could back it up two weeks later.

“We’re really pleased with how he is, he’s in a really good place so fingers crossed he can stay there for the next two weeks and go in the form he’s in at the minute.”



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Nakheel gallops on gamely to plunder Park Hill spoils

The unexposed Nakheel took full advantage of her weight allowance to hold off the consistent Night Sparkle in the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster.

Trained by Owen Burrows, the three-year-old was still a maiden when the season started and has been steadily improving in Pattern company since.

She finished a four-length third to Scenic in the Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting, but looked much more at home stepping up another two furlongs in trip.

Jim Crowley chose to make his challenge down the inside, which had been shunned in the previous race, but it did not make a difference.

Ryan Moore briefly looked to be holding all the aces on Grateful after Sumo Sam, last year’s winner, began to backpedal, but when stamina was at a premium, Grateful was found wanting.

Nakheel (10-1), sporting first-time cheekpieces, made her bid for home and had enough in the locker to hold off Night Sparkle by a length and a half.

Burrows said: “Watching her at York last time, we thought the trip would help, certainly a bit of ease in the ground would help and I think the cheekpieces have helped a bit as well.

“She’s not ungenuine by a long way, but they just helped her travel a bit further and sharpened her up.

“She’s been coming up through Listed races and getting placed, we thought this would be an obvious spot for her and it’s worked out great.

“She came off the bridle a fraction turning in but she came straight back on, so I knew then we still had plenty of petrol in the tank and I thought she would certainly stay on right to the line.

“We haven’t got any fancy entries, but she’s progressing nicely and we’ll speak to Sheikh Ahmed about where we go from here.

“From a trainer’s point of view, I’d love to have her back as a four-year-old, in which case I’m not sure we need to do anything else this year.

“We’re getting to know her and she’s still lightly-raced, so we’ll see.”



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International options under consideration for Alflaila

Owen Burrows could consider options abroad for Alflaila after he failed to fire in last week’s Juddmonte International at York.

Having successfully defended his crown in the York Stakes over the course and distance on his previous start, the Shadwell-owned five-year-old lined up as for what was billed as the race of the season on the Knavesmire, but a slow start set the tone for a disappointing display.

Alflaila trailed home 12th of 13 runners, beaten some 24 lengths by the brilliant winner City Of Troy, and Burrows may now look to lower his sights after ruling out a second tilt at the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month.

“Alflaila just had one of his days. He’s done it before in the past, he can be slow away, and you can’t be giving them a head-start in races like that,” said the trainer.

“Ryan (Moore) got his fractions spot-on (on City Of Troy) and horses didn’t come back and Alflaila likes to pass horses, so Jim (Crowley) didn’t give him a hard time once he knew it wasn’t happening.

“We’ll see where we go from here, there’s a few options about, possibly not in this country.

“He won’t go to Ireland as it doesn’t really suit him round Leopardstown, so we’ll look elsewhere.”

Another horse for the Shadwell-Burrows combination who failed to run up to expectations at the Ebor Festival was Alyanaabi, who similarly failed to land a telling blow in the Strensall Stakes.

The three-year-old was fifth in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes earlier in the season, but subsequently finished fourth as a hot favourite for Newbury’s Steventon Stakes and came home last of nine at York.

Burrows added: “Alyanaabi is going to get a full MOT and go back to Shadwell for a break because his last two runs have been very disappointing and something is not quite right.

“We’ll finish him for the year and get him checked out and look forward to him coming back next year.”



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All roads leading to Doncaster now for Deira Mile

A tilt at Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger remains firmly on the cards for Deira Mile following his narrow defeat at Windsor on Saturday.

Making his first appearance since finishing fourth behind City of Troy in the Derby in early June, the Camelot colt was a hot favourite for the Listed August Stakes, but was unable to reel in the front-running Sea Of Roses, who clung on by a neck under a well-judged ride from Hayley Turner.

While frustrated to suffer defeat, Deira Mile’s trainer Owen Burrows is far from despondent as he targets a trip to Doncaster on September 14.

“It was disappointing not to win, but it was bit of a messy race, so I wasn’t too disappointed with the performance as such,” he said.

“It would have been asking a lot to go to a Leger without a prep run, so I was pleased to get one into him. It was probably half a furlong shorter than ideal and a messy old race, but fair play to Hayley, she got her fractions spot-on and we couldn’t quite get by.

“I was happy as you can be for finishing second and we’ll go straight to the Leger now. I don’t see any reason to change plans, so we’ll head to Doncaster.”



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Alflaila should be favoured by Juddmonte International set-up

Alflaila is on course to return to his favourite track in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Owen Burrows-trained five-year-old, who is owned and was bred by Shadwell, has run on the Knavesmire four times and won on the last three of those occasions.

He has a Strensall Stakes victory to his name, along with two triumphs in the Group Two York Stakes, the most recent of which was his last outing, when he was successful by half a length in a slowly-run contest.

That win was the seventh of his career, which has been stalled by injury before now but which he will aim to take to new heights in what is shaping up to a top-class renewal of Group One showpiece.

“He’s on track for York, he’s very well and is such a good-looking horse,” said Burrows.

“He’s a horse that hadn’t run for such a long time at the start of the season, Jim (Crowley) mentioned that he might just come forward for that run at York.

“It was very tactical, so I felt he did well to win, the Juddmonte is shaping up as a race that should be run at a good gallop and that will suit him.

“York suits him too, that nice long straight just lets him find his pace, because nothing’s instant with him.

“He does take a bit of time to pick up, but he’s a very honest horse and he always hits the line very strong.”



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Burrows expects Anmaat to come on for winning return

Connections will plot a path with Anmaat after his comeback success in the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock.

The Shadwell-owned gelding has shown plenty of talent in the past, progressing through an array of valuable handicaps before taking his first Group Three race in the 2022 renewal of the aforementioned Haydock contest.

He stepped immediately up to Group Two level to end that season on a high when landing the Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp, proving his ability to cope with testing ground.

In 2023, Anmaat was beaten only by Derby hero Adayar when returning to action in the Gordon Richards Stakes, after which he broke new ground to land the Group One Prix d’Ispahan in May.

The latter run was his last of 2023 and a long, 439-day absence from the racecourse followed as injury kept him out of action until his comeback at the weekend.

Contesting the Rose of Lancaster again, he started as the 8-11 favourite under Jim Crowley and blew away the cobwebs to prevail by a neck from Jack Channon’s Certain Lad.

“He seems fine after Saturday and that was the most important thing to us, that he’s come out of it well,” said Burrows.

“It was very pleasing to get him back on the track – and for him to be able to win was great.

“I had half earmarked the race Alflaila won at York (the York Stakes) for him but that was just going to come a few weeks too soon.

“He’d won the Rose of Lancaster before and with Alflaila winning the York race, it’s actually worked out perfectly.”

Burrows expects Anmaat to come on from his Haydock effort and will see how he fares in the coming weeks before shoring up plans for his next start.

“He took a run last year, he was second to Adayar in the rearranged Gordon Richards and he took a big step forward,” he said.

“I’d like to think he would be similar this time, we were fortunate that there was no Adayar to contend with and we were good enough to get away with it.

“It was a hard enough race first time. He’s got an Irish Champion Stakes entry, not to say that will come too soon, but we might not want to put him straight into something like that.

“He’s also got his British Champion entry as well, he’s proven that he goes on soft ground, so we’ll just let the dust settle, I’ll speak to (owner) Sheikha Hissa, Angus (Gold) and Richard (Hills) and we’ll make a bit of a plan.”



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Anmaat making eagerly-awaited Rose of Lancaster return

Anmaat makes his return to action from over 400 days off in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Winner of the Group Three contest contest two years ago for Owen Burrows, which came shortly after a major handicap success in the John Smith’s Cup, he ended that campaign with a gutsy victory in the Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp.

Last season he returned with a satisfactory effort behind Derby winner Adayar at Newmarket and took his form to new heights with Group One honours in the Prix d’Ispahan. However, in being prepared for the Coral-Eclipse he picked up an injury and has not been seen since.

“We still don’t know if we’ve seen the best of him yet, he’s lightly raced – just 12 races as a six-year-old, which is not many,” said Burrows.

Anmaat progressed from winning the John Smith's Cup to a Group One horse
Anmaat progressed from winning the John Smith’s Cup to a Group One horse (Nigel French/PA)

“It will be great to see him back and all being well he’ll run a nice race and we can start planning then for the rest of the year.

“He needed his first run last year in the Gordon Richards behind Adayar when he had a penalty and I’m sure it will be similar this time, but as long as he runs a nice race and shows his old enthusiasm we can look forward then.”

The William Haggas-trained Al Mubhir arrives on the back of a good Listed win at Sandown, a career-best effort on a step up to 10 furlongs.

Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to his owner, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “Any rain will be a help, but I think we saw a massive improvement in the way he travelled at Sandown up at a mile and a quarter and this is hopefully what is going to help him find more improvement, which he will need because it is a strong event.

“I was very impressed with him at Sandown and he will be better with a little bit of cut in the ground – as long as it’s good he will be fine, but any rain would be appreciated.

“I do think the mile and a quarter will bring about further improvement and I like to think he will be at least 7/8lb better over that trip than he was a mile.

“Obviously Anmaat will take a lot of beating and he won a Group One last time. He’s got the class about him and chased home a Derby winner at Newmarket before that and as well as being a consistent horse, his level form is very high.”

Haggas also runs Mujtaba, but Richard Hughes’ Bracken’s Laugh and John and Thady Gosden’s Lord North were taken out on Saturday morning.

Jack Channon’s Certain Lad is no spring chicken at eight but appears as good as ever having won a Listed race in France by seven lengths last time out.

“Certain Lad has been a brilliant horse for us the last few years and he’s been in great form since France, we’ve just been waiting for some decent ground that overlaps with the right race for him,” said Channon.

“Haydock is a course that suits him down to the ground, he has a great record there and if the ground is good then it will be perfect for him and I think he goes there with a great chance.”



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Raqiya camp facing conundrum over suitable next step

Owen Burrows has got his thinking cap on with regards to Raqiya’s next target now she is a Group Three winner.

The Shadwell-owned filly was awarded the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood by the stewards having had her run blocked initially by first-past-the-post Jabaara.

Having proved her stamina over seven furlongs in Sussex, she has opened up more options, but with a Group Two the next logical step, connections cannot see an obvious option against fillies.

“She’s fine, she’s obviously not done too much but she seems in good nick,” said Burrows.

“We’re not sure where she’ll go next, we’re in discussions with Sheikha Hissa, Angus (Gold, racing manager) and Richard (Hills, assistant racing manager) about what the next plan is for her, time will tell.

“Having won her Group Three, there isn’t an obvious next step, which is the trouble with our programme, there aren’t too many options.

“She’s improving, it was interesting she stayed the seven furlongs so well, as she has always shown plenty of speed but she is out of a Dansili mare, so it was encouraging that she hit the line strong.

“Fast ground is important to her, we’ve run her a couple of times on slightly easier ground at Ayr and York the run before, and she wasn’t quite at her best, so we’re just in the process of where to go next.”



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St Leger hope Deira Mile given Great Voltigeur target

Deira Mile, not sighted since finishing a fine fourth in the Derby behind City Of Troy, is on course to run in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York on August 21.

The only reason the son of Camelot would not feature on the Knavesmire in the traditional St Leger trial is if the ground was deemed to be too fast.

Should that be the case, trainer Owen Burrows would take him for a racecourse gallop instead, with the handler believing the test of the Leger distance to be ideal for his charge, and he would not want to risk ruining his Doncaster chances at York if conditions were not suitable.

“He’s all good, we’re very pleased with him and the plan is to give him a start in the Voltigeur,” said Burrows.

“The only way he wouldn’t run was if the ground was very fast and then he might have a racecourse gallop somewhere.

“All along, we’ve felt the Leger is his race and I wouldn’t want to risk jarring him up before that, so we’ll play it by ear but we’re working towards running him there.

“I can’t imagine York letting it get too quick, but who knows with our weather.

“I’ve got one or two going there who the ground won’t make much difference to, but good ground would be perfect for him. Time will tell.”



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