TIME FOR REFLECTION
KARL BURKE expects to see dual Group One winner Quiet Reflection “strip a lot fitter” than on her seasonal return at Haydock when she runs in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Last year’s Commonwealth and Sprint Cup heroine will bid for a third top-level success when she steps back up in trip for the six-furlong contest on June 24.
Quiet Reflection appeared to be in need of the run when finishing 10th in last month’s Temple Stakes on ground that was faster than ideal.
Burke said: “Everything is good with Quiet Reflection. She has come out of her last race great and is moving well.
“She went into the Haydock race 14 kilograms heavier than her last run last year so it tells you how much she needed it.
“In hindsight we should have gone to the Curragh with her on the same day as Haydock where the ground went soft. She will strip a lot fitter for that run and now heads to the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot.
“We are expecting a big run, but obviously the slower the ground, the better.”
Meanwhile, Martyn Meade is contemplating dropping Eminent back in trip for a tilt at next month’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown after ruling him out of an appearance in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
The 10-furlong Group One prize on July 8 is one of two races being considered by the Newmarket handler for the Frankel colt, who finished fourth in Saturday’s Derby at Epsom.
Although Meade was left disappointed by the finishing position, the handler is confident his charge has what it takes to strike at the top level at some point this season.
He said: “First of all, the most important thing is he has come out of the race okay and he lives to fight another day.
“No doubt a race like that will take it’s toll on any three-year-old and he’s lost a little bit of weight. He does look great but as he is a big horse he’ll need a bit of time.
“He is not actually in the Irish Derby and I don’t think he will go for that. He might go for the Eclipse and we will consider the Grand Prix de Paris (July 14) as he is in both of them.
“They are later than the Irish race so it gives us sufficient time to get him back to his best. It would be quite good to try the stiff mile and a quarter at Sandown, as it obviously helps it is a big striding track and that is what he needs. He will go for one or the other.”