On The Up…
Jason Fildes of Fildes Racing analyses the meteoric rise of trainer Karl Burke’s stable in Yorkshire
There are more boxes full of quality horses at Karl Burke’s training yard at Spigot Lodge, just outside Middleham in Yorkshire, than there have ever been. His is definitely a stable on the up and he has now risen to the highest level of the training ranks, capable of competing in any company whether it be in the Classics or at Royal Ascot.
He has reached 100 winners in Britain in each of the last three seasons (comfortably passing that number last year with 119) and his record haul of prize money (over £3m) was three times as much as he was earning in the days of six-time Group 1 winner, Laurens, back in 2018.
Last season Karl won two top-level races among a total of 17 Group wins, which included five in France and two in Ireland.
Asked about how the yard has reached the top table, Karl says: “It’s the same routine but we’re getting sent better horses, it’s as simple as that.”
Success breeds success in racing and owners gravitate to trainers on the up. Karl is certainly one of those and the better horses for 2024 include Guineas runners Fallen Angel, Darnation and Night Raider as well as three potential Derby candidates in Arabic Legend, Caviar Heights and Golden West.
I’m pleased to say that we have had horses at Spigot Lodge for the last six years and there are currently five in his yard. Karl’s view of them is as follows:
SPYCATCHER
He had a brilliant 2023 and was unlucky not to win the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. He needs cut in the ground and it was probably too quick for him in the Abernant at Newmarket, where he was third and lost a shoe. I hope he can find a Group 1 this year.
KORKER
He’s a proper five-furlong horse who finished really well last year and has finally started to jump from the stalls properly. He should have been a Royal Ascot winner but got left 10 lengths in the Palace of Holyroodhouse two years ago and got beaten three lengths. If he keeps starting fine, he’s a Listed/Group 3 horse.
HARVANNA
She’s quick – and we’ll probably keep her to sprint distances. We’re hoping she can run well at York before winning the race at Royal Ascot that Korker didn’t!
MANNERISM
A slightly disappointing two-year-old season last year but has grown and strengthened. But he’s sustained an injury which will keep him out of action until the autumn. He could be a very well handicapped horse when we get him to the racecourse.
AMALFINA
A beautifully bred filly (by Nathaniel) who is a half-sister to our Group 1 winner Poptronic. Amalfina has just arrived from Jamie Lloyd’s pre-training yard and has settled in nicely. She’s still a baby and growing but she’s doing everything we’ve asked of her – we’ll see what kind of engine she’s got in the summer. I don’t think she’ll be running until July, over mid-distances, but we’ve high hopes.
Fildes Racing
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