Burke and McDonald seal golden seasons

LAURENS clung on by a fast-diminishing nose to land the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and cap huge seasons for trainer Karl Burke and jockey PJ McDonald. The filly, who cost £220,000 and is owned by John Dance, edged out Aidan O’ Brientrained September who flew through the final yards. Laurens delivered a second top-level success of 2017 for Burke, who landed the Prix Morny at Deauville in August with Unfortunately. For McDonald, who in 2007 won the Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld before he decided to concentrate on the Flat, it was a first Group One win in a campaign where his career has hit fresh heights. Coral make Laurens a 20-1 shot for the 2018 1,000 Guineas but Burke said her main aim could turn out to be the 10-furlong French Oaks. The trainer said: ‘She wasn’t a cheap horse but she had a fantastic action and is very light on her feet for a big filly, almost like a ballerina. ‘The ideal race for her would be the Prix de Diane. We have a lot to talk about now but if it came up soft ground for the Guineas then that would all of a sudden become a big option.’