Trainer Karl Burke is looking to take a strong team of runners to York's Ebor meeting next week and his stable star Laurens is set to lead the way in the City of York Stakes, which sees her take a drop back to seven furlongs.
This drop back in trip is all part of the trainers plan to send his filly back over to France towards the end of the season for the Group 1 Prix de la Foret as she has had a great record across the pond racing four times and winning three of them.
All three of her wins have been in Group One races, with her latest coming on her last run at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild where she travelled superbly to beat a classy field of runners.
Laurens sixth Group One win of her career was a massive boost for the yard who did not have the best start to this seasons campaign but Karl Burke has now got his camp firing with frequent winners throughout the week.
(Credit At The Races) “Laurens will have an entry on Monday morning, all being well, and she’s in good form,” said Burke.
There are plenty of classy runners at Burke's yard that are set to go to York alongside Laurens with Kelly's Dino being a key one with him being primed for a go at the £1 million handicap feature contest of the festival.
He booked his spot in the 22 runner race after winning at Newmarket last Friday and for that was given a four pound penalty that has now seen him get in on the weights.
Burke added: “I was very happy with him – he’s only done a couple of canters since but he’ll work at the end of the week, and I couldn’t have been happier.
“The timing of that race was almost perfect. We thought we’d done enough when he finished fifth in the Group race, going up to 105, but we’d have been distraught if we’d missed out by one.
“It might turn out we didn’t need the extra 4lb, but it would have been tight without it. I can only think of three or four who might not run – so to get six or seven we’d have been lucky.
“He had a wind op at the end of last year, and it’s really helped him – he looks in great condition and is moving brilliantly. Obviously it will be a tough race, but if he gets in the first four we’ll be over the moon.”
The Group Two Lowther Stakes is a race Burke feels he can really attack with three entries currently in the contest but it looks as if only Living In The Past who was third in the Princess Margaret Stakes last time out will go to post.
He said: “Living In The Past will run in the Lowther.“Seize The Time will go to Newbury on Friday, because she’s very fast and I’ll just keep her to five furlongs for now – although she’ll probably be left in, just in case.
“Lord Of The Lodge won really well at Haydock last week, and he’s in the Gimcrack. Unfortunately he doesn’t qualify for the Acomb – because I think he’d appreciate another furlong.
“He will have an entry in the nursery as well, because he’s in that of 95. He’s a nice horse.
“Dubai Station will go for the Gimcrack as well. I was a bit disappointed with him last time in France – but the handicapper actually put him up 2lb.
“He came back with a little niggle but he’s over that now. I know they think a lot of the winner, but I thought we’d chase down the second. I think he’s better than that. He’s in great form now, though.”
The trainer recently had a winner on debut with Wonderwork and with the horse showing bags of potential at Thirsk he is set to go up to a Listed contest at the Ebor meeting.
Burke said: “Wonderwork looks very smart and he’ll go for the Roses (Stakes) next week – he’ll love a bit of juice in the ground. He looks a smart prospect.
“The horses are definitely running well now.
“They look well – but they’ve looked well all year, to be fair. We’re a long way off where we should be on winners, but I hope we can have a good autumn.”