Nakheel captains strong York team for in-form Burrows

Owen Burrows is looking to continue his impressive start to the season at York this week, where Nakheel will head up his team in the Al Basti Equiworld Middleton Stakes on Thursday.

The Listed victory of Alyanaabi at Haydock on Saturday pushed up Burrows’ strike-rate for the past fortnight to an incredible 50 per cent.

Coupled with impressive performances for Falakeyah, Gethin and the York-bound Glittering Surf, things could not be going better for Sir Michael Stoute’s former assistant.

“I’ve never started like this. I think we’re nine from 20 – that’s crazy stats and I know it won’t continue like that,” he said.

“Going into this season, I felt we had a decent bunch of horses. I’m thrilled with how they have run – credit to my team, everybody is working hard.

“This week, I’m looking forward to getting out Nakheel. I’ve got a one-time runner and winner last year – a Wootton Bassett filly (Sea Poetry) – running at Kempton on Thursday. I’ve got my first two-year-old runners this week, which is unheard of for me at this time of year! So that is exciting. It is going well and long may it continue.”

Nakheel also had the option of the Yorkshire Cup but Burrows has plumped for the 10-furlong Group Two instead.

“She looks a bit sharper this year – we’ll give her a shot in the Middleton,” he said.

“We may have to take the boys on at some stage, but I just didn’t feel I wanted to do that first-time up over near enough a mile and six in the Cup.”

Glittering Surf is two from two and is set for the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes, better known as the Michael Seely.

“She’s done nothing wrong. She didn’t learn a lot first time – she went out in front and made all,” said Burrows.

“I was keen for her to learn a bit last time and she certainly did. She does enough at home that you know she’s pretty decent, but I was pleasantly surprised. The speed she showed between three and a half to one and a half surprised me a bit, to be honest.

“She’s in good form. Hopefully it will be nice, safe, fast ground – York does a very good job – because she is a big girl, she’s got a bit of knee action.”