Burrows retains faith in Touleen as excuse emerges for Rockfel blip

Owen Burrows is retaining plenty of faith in Touleen having found a reason for her below-par performance in the Rockfel Stakes last month.

The Shadwell-owned daughter of Lope De Vega was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the Newmarket Group Two after dazzling in a red-hot Leicester novice event when downing Zanthos.

That rival turned the tables on the Rowley Mile as Touleen failed to fire, but after the initial disappointment, Burrows discovered a possible explanation for the display and hopes the exciting filly can recommence her upwards trajectory when returning in the spring.

“She scoped filthy after I took her off the lorry after the Rockfel, so she’s back at Shadwell already having her winter break,” said Burrows, who also trains Oh So Sharp Stakes scorer Calendar Girl and could feasibly have two 1000 Guineas candidates in the spring.

“Fingers crossed along with Calendar Girl, they are two nice fillies to look forward to during the winter and I think you can just put a line through the Rockfel.

“I turned to my wife after half a furlong to say I wasn’t confident and then William (Buick) switched her to track the winner and I thought we might be back in business. But when he went for her, she lugged right and just wasn’t comfortable.

“I was gutted to be honest. William was very complimentary about her after Leicester and he didn’t really know what to say and I think it wasn’t until halfway round the M25 that I spoke to my wife on the drive home.

“She was crystal clear when I had scoped her two days before the race, but that is just horses at this time of year and we can forget about it and probably look for a trial in the spring.”