Karl Burke says that he is confident Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will prove a tough nut to crack when she bids to follow up in the Coronation S. at Royal Ascot.
Fallen Angel will face a stern test at Royal Ascot, with Roger Varian's 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Aidan O'Brien's Opera Singer (Justify) both in opposition.
Burke told Sky Sports Racing, “She's in great form, came back from Ireland in good order, she did a nice piece of work on Tuesday and we couldn't be happier with her. I thought it was a fantastic performance (at the Curragh), to be honest. She got into a great rhythm early and watching from the stands from halfway, I was pretty relaxed, I thought we had them all covered and I knew she'd keep galloping right to the line.”
He added, “It will be an interesting race, there's some great fillies in there and obviously Aidan's filly [Opera Singer] that was behind us at the Curragh is going to step forward, but they need to step forward, we only have to maintain our form from the Curragh for us to be the one to beat and, if anything, I don't see why she can't improve again.
“I don't think she's ground dependent whatsoever, if it's good ground or on the easy side of good or just on the quicker side of good, it will make no difference to Fallen Angel.”
Whatever happens over the round mile at Ascot, Burke is already looking forward to stepping his filly up to a-mile-and-a-quarter later in the summer.
He said, “I would be strongly saying that she'll stay further. We toyed with the idea of going for the Prix de Diane on Sunday, but we'll save the step up for later in the year–there's only one Royal Ascot.
“The Nassau is one (possible race) at Goodwood, but I'd say she'll have a short break after Ascot. She'll have a short break after this, as she's had three quickish runs and been prepared all winter for a Guineas, so she'll have a short break and we'll bring her back in August, I'd imagine.”
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