KARL BURKE topped the £1 million barrier in prize money for the fourth year in succession in 2019 and his haul of nine Group 1 wins during the same period hallmarks his position as trainer very much to keep on right side of.

The unforgettable Laurens was obviously the shining light with six Group 1 wins – landing the Fillies’ Mile as a juvenile, the Prix Saint-Alary, Prix de Diane, Matron Stakes and the Sun Chariot at three and then the Prix Rothschild last season but a good chunk of his success has been down to his prowess with his two-year-olds.

Living In The Past livened up 2019 with a victory in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and Comedy took a Group 3 in France in 2018 but it was the exploits of Laurens taking the Fillies’ Mile in 2017 and Unfortunately (Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 2 Prix Robert Papin) and Havana Grey (Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, Listed National Stakes and second in the Prix Morny) who underlined his ability with a young horse.

Burke bought Unfortunately for only 24,000 euros at Tattersalls Ireland and Havana Grey for 140,000gns out of Tattersalls Book 2 and they both looked a steal considering their subsequent efforts.

The Spigot Lodge trainer clearly has the eye to unearth a hidden gem and guided Tony Elves of attheraces.com through those that he hopes can emerge with honour this time around.

Please note: Where a horse exists in the ATR database we have linked to its form and tracker profile below, we will update others when they become available. 

ATTINHAT
b f Cable Bay – Norway Cross
"She is a very nice Cable Bay filly for later on, but she is going to be more a three-year-old really. She is a lovely filly who could come to herself late in the spring."

BRIGHT APPARITION
b c Charm Spirit – Katies Diamond
"He was bought out of Tattersalls Book 2 at Newmarket and is the first foal of Katie's Diamond that we trained who was a very nice filly. He is a big, strong colt for a first foal and looks as though he can develop. He will be ready for the six-furlong races whenever racing starts."

EMARATI DREAM
b c Buratino – Radiant Energy
"He is from a nice fast family and we trained one of the progeny, a filly call Tut. He is a late foal so he will be out from mid-season onwards so the break in racing hasn’t really done him any harm. He is a bit on the small side, but he looks fairly sharp and was bought for 15,000 euros at Goffs February Sale last year."

INHALER
b c Elzaam – Desire
He would be one of our earliest colts. He goes well and his second dam bred Frederick Engels who won the Group 2 July Stakes for David Brown and was sold out to Hong Kong. He would be quick enough to run over five, but I would imagine he would be better over six. I do like him.

JACATTACK
ch c Anjaal – Ononmatomania
"His half-sister Que Amoro who Michael Dods trains is very quick and she was second to one of ours Lady In France in a listed race last year. I saw him in the sale and Anjaal hasn’t really done it as a sire but he stamps them really well and I would be disappointed if this fellow couldn't go and win races as a two-year-old. He looks very quick and he will start over five furlongs and would have been one of the early ones had there been racing."

MISS SEAFIRE
b f Dandy Man – Solstice
"She is another by Dandy Man that I like, and she reminds me of that good Dandy Man filly we had called Comedy. She is a nice filly and one to keep an eye on."

MISTER B
ch c Dandy Man – Days Of Summer
"He is a big, strong colt who will probably want six furlongs but I do like him. He is from a good strong family and is another who will be ready to go when the races start."

NORTH OF AMAZING
b c Havana Gold – Princess Guest
"He is a half-brother to Dubai Station who was third in the Norfolk for us at Royal Ascot and he is by Havana Gold. He is a big, strong colt and he is a late April foal. He won’t be out early, but he will be a second half of the season type of colt."

SHE’S SO NICE
b f Mehmas – Elkmait
"She is a half-sister to The Mackem Bullet who just got touched off in the Lowther for Brian Ellison. She is a nice filly and was bought out of Tattersalls Book 1 for 110,000gns. She will definitely be a two-year-old."

SIMONS KING
b c Kingman – Sanaya
"He is a very nice horse by Kingman who was bought in France for 140,000 euros. He is out of a Group 1 placed mare and is May foal so there will be no rush with him. He is a nice horse for the second half of the season."

UNNAMED
b f Dark Angel – Agnes Stewart
"She has just been sent to me and she is a very nice filly by Dark Angel out of Agnes Stewart who won the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and was runner-up in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. She is the first foal and she is owned by Clipper Logistics."

UNNAMED
b c Elzaam – Adaptation
"He is a very nice colt out of a Spectrum mare. I love the Spectrum mares and I had his full-brother Parnassian who did well for us. He was pretty useful, but this fellow is a much nicer model. He is only going to improve as the season goes on."