Burke sending classy duo over to Deauville for trials
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 6 Apr 2026
Karl Burke will test the Classic credentials of the unbeaten Crown Relic and prolific filly Half Sovereign at Deauville on Tuesday.
Crown Relic has been hugely impressive in winning his first two starts on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, most recently scoring by six lengths a month ago.
He faces a significantly tougher test for his turf debut in the Group Three Prix Djebel, but Burke is confident he will not be out of place.
“It’s a step up in class and his first run on grass, but he’s a talented horse and it looks an obvious race to have a look at to see if we might stay a mile,” said the Spigot Lodge handler.
“He does have a lot of speed so it will be interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing him run, he’s a very good horse, I think.
“I think the ground is fine. They’ve got drying conditions out there, so I’m not too worried about the ground.”
While the Prix Djebel is a recognised trial for the French 2000 Guineas – the Poule d’Essai des Poulains – Crown Relic also holds an entry in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and Burke is in no rush to decide which path he will take.
“We’ll see and keep all options open,” the trainer added.
“The French Guineas would probably look more likely if he performs well (on Tuesday), but I wouldn’t rule anything out at the moment.”
Crown Relic’s rivals include Francis-Henri Graffard’s three-time winner Samangan and Andre Fabre’s impressive Chantilly scorer Firefall, who will be ridden by Colin Keane in the Juddmonte silks.
The remarkable Half Sovereign is Burke’s representative in the fillies’ trial, the Prix Imprudence.
Bought for just 12,000 guineas as a yearling by her trainer, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns went on to win five of her seven juvenile starts, including a French Group Three in October, before being knocked down to Lady Bamford for €2.6million two months later.
Burke is delighted her new owner has kept Half Sovereign at his North Yorkshire yard and is relishing her return to action.
He said: “She’s done really well over the winter. She was always a big two-year-old and she’s filled her frame nicely.
“We’re very happy with her. It is a trial, but she’s pretty straightforward and although she got beaten first time out last year she got left in the stalls and I think she wouldn’t have been far away otherwise.
“She’s a clean-winded filly and I’m expecting a nice run. The French 1000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches) is the preferred route for her, so it made sense to go out there for a trial.
“Both horses – and her in particular – will come on for the run, but she’s fit enough to show some ability anyway.”
Half Sovereign is joined on the trip across the Channel by Kevin Ryan’s Isle Of Fernandez and Hamad Al Jehani’s Quiescent, who won her final four starts of last season in the Wathnan Racing silks.
The home team in the Prix Imprudence is headed by Fabre’s Prix du Calvados winner My Highness and Valasara, who is two from two at Deauville for the Graffard team.
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