By Nick Seddon
Karl Burke admitted that he was very impressed with star filly Dramatised (4-1 Favourite), who impressed when making a winning return in the feature Group Two Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.
The three year old enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign last team, winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and finishing an excellent second at the Breeders’ Cup, and she was well-fancied up against older rivals for the first time.
Drawn in stall 10, the daughter of Showcasing was quickly moved into a prominent position on the stand-side rail under William Buick, in behind the front-running Live In The Dream in the five-furlong contest.
The gap soon opened for Buick and Dramatised changed gears impressively for her jockey, hitting the front at the furlong pole and finding plenty for a length success.
That victory saw her shortened into 7-1 for next month’s King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot with Paddy Power and speaking after the race, Burke revealed that he would aim his charge at the top sprint races this term.
He said: “You’d have to give her nine and a half out of 10 for that, there is a little bit of improvement to come out of her. William (Buick) said she was a little bit rusty and when he asked her to quicken up she took 100 yards to really get into gear, but you have to be impressed.
“I’ve yet to watch the replay, but the rail was always going to be an advantage. We knew Live In The Dream was going to be up there, so the plan was just to tag onto that. William rode his luck a little bit, but he said there was always room to force his way through, so it was brilliant.
“I would temper in that I think the stand-side rail was the place to be yesterday, we had the run of the race a little bit with Live In The Dream, but it was a very good performance and there’s more to come.
“This was always the plan to begin with unless this was very heavy ground. She’ll now go for the King’s Stand Stakes, which is going to be a tough task with the Australian horses coming over. After that the Nunthorpe will be on her radar too and a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup – we’ll work back from America.
“William has never sat on her before and he said she took a little while to get going, but he thinks she’ll sharpen up for that. Danny (Tudhope) couldn’t do the weight today (08-09), but he’ll do it at Ascot.
“The owner (Steve Parkin) is over in Monaco enjoying the Grand Prix this weekend, I got a few videos of a party last night and I’d say they’ll be partying again tonight!”
"I still there's some improvement left in her," says William Buick
William Buick told ITV Racing: “She has taken on older sprinters who are tough and seasoned. It was her return this year so you would expect to see some improvement.
“She was so professional all throughout – she was really relaxed beforehand and Karl and all the team have done a great job with her over the winter.
“Even with the weight that they get, it’s never easy taking on older sprinters but she was top class last year and it looks like it is going to carry on this year.”