show me:

Novakai could be aimed at Group 1 challenges

3 minute read

Karl Burke's juvenile filly Novakai is in line for a shot at Group One honours after a successful start to her race career.

Trainer : Karl Burke Picture: AAP Image

The two-year-old filled the runner-up spot in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week, was fifth in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes in August, and won her first race back in July, also at Doncaster.

"I was delighted with her. I made a mistake running her over seven furlongs on fast ground at Newmarket and she looks like she's going to be a mile-and-a-half filly next year," said the trainer.

"She's a high-class filly, she showed what she's made of the other day and she can only progress through the winter and into her three-year-old career.

"She'll probably have one more run this season. She's in the Fillies' Mile and if the ground came up soft there, I would think that's where she'll go."

Meanwhile, Dramatised could be on her way to the Breeders' Cup.

The daughter of Showcasing was hugely impressive on her racecourse debut at Newmarket in the spring and justified her tall reputation with victory in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

She was disappointing when bidding for her hat-trick in the Lowther at York last month, seemingly failing to see out six furlongs, but Burke has not lost any faith in the youngster.

"She's had an easy time since York and we're just starting to do a bit more work with her now – we're having to just to keep a lid on her. She looks in great shape," he said..

The Spigot Lodge handler views the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland as a suitable target, with Newmarket's Cornwallis Stakes on October 7 a possible stepping-stone.

Burke added: "I'm not 100 per cent sure where we're going. The Breeders' Cup is on our minds and I'd like to have a prep run, but there's probably only the Group Three Cornwallis and that would mean her carrying a Group Two penalty.

"I'm not sure what we'll do, but she is in great shape."