Karl Burke takes stock with Quiet Reflection as ground key to Haydock run

Karl Burke will make "a late call" on Quiet Reflection's participation in the Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Quiet Reflection Picture: Racing and Sports

The Leyburn handler is keen to get a run into his stable star, with a crack at next month's Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot firmly on the agenda.

However, given Quiet Reflection posted her two Group One wins last year when there was some ease in the ground, Burke would not want to risk the Showcasing filly on firm conditions.

He said: "Heavy showers are forecast in the area around Saturday lunchtime, so I'd say she's 99 per cent certain to travel to the track and we'll make a decision once we get there.

"If we needed to we could leave it until 15 minutes before the race, but I'd think we would have made a decision before that.

"It will be a late call, though."

Burke had expressed some concerns about Quiet Reflection's home efforts earlier in the season, but reports her back on form now.

He added: "She's had a few little niggly problems, but we've got those ironed out now.

"She's in very good form and her work over the last 10 days or so has been good.

"We really want to get a run into her before Ascot and there were only three real options for her - last week at York, when she wasn't really ready, the Temple and then a race in France next weekend.

"I don't really want to travel her three weeks before a meeting like Royal Ascot, though, so we will be keeping our fingers crossed the rain arrives at Haydock and she can run."

Martin Harley will team up with Quiet Reflection for the first time, leaving Pat Cosgrave to take over aboard Goldream who, along with Encore D'Or, is one of two runners for Robert Cowell.

Goldream thrives on fast ground and hardly had conditions to suit last season, but he finished third behind Marsha in the Palace House Stakes on his return at Newmarket when the going was good to firm.

Cowell said: "Goldream ran a brilliant race in the Palace House.

"He had a hard year when he won the King's Stand and the Abbaye, it took a lot out of him and I did not have enough time to recharge his batteries. He was on empty when he came back from France.

"We then sent him to Dubai and he wasn't fully recharged. We gave him the winter off and I think I've got him back to his best.

"He looks wonderful. He's fresh and happy so I can see him running a big race."

Encore D'Or is having a first try in Pattern company in this Group Two event after winning twice on the all-weather in the winter and finishing third on All-Weather Finals Day last month.

Cowell said: "Encore D'Or has been doing pretty well and is in the King's Stand.

"Last year he progressed through the handicap ranks, but when we put him on grass he was a bit disappointing.

"He was a colt then - he used to get in a muck-sweat around fillies - but he's a gelding now and has sorted himself out.

"He seems to have improved on the all-weather and it remains to be seen how good he is back on turf but he remains a horse with a lot of potential."

Clive Cox won the race last year with Profitable and this time relies upon dual Listed winner Priceless.

She was beaten three lengths in fifth in the Palace House and Cox is unsure how the ground will ride in light of the forecast.

He said: "It's a tough one with the ground for her, as with thunderstorms, you can never be too sure what is going to happen.

"I thought Marsha was extremely impressive at Newmarket, she looked a stronger filly than when she won the Abbaye.

"But, having said that, our filly was a good winner in a Listed race at Bath on quick ground on her previous run. She's in good form at the moment and hopefully there will be a little bit of the track that she can perform on."

Aidan O'Brien's Washington DC finished second in the Palace House and he lines up again alongside Kachy (fourth), Alpha Delphini (eighth), Cotai Glory (ninth) and Thesme (14th).


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