Saturday 23 September 2017 10:12, UK
Karl Burke is confident Quiet Reflection has lost none of her ability ahead of her eagerly-awaited return to action in the Renaissance Stakes at Naas on Sunday.
The daughter of Showcasing enjoyed a fantastic three-year-old campaign last season, claiming Group One glory in both the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The current campaign has not gone to plan, however, with Burke making no secret of the fact his star filly was not burning up the gallops in the spring, and she failed to fire on her reappearance in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May.
A subsequent setback ruled her out of a return to the Royal meeting and Burke has been forced to bide his time since, but he feels Quiet Reflection is finally back on song ahead of her Irish assignment.
"I've been away at the sales most of the week, but I saw her have her last canter before she left the yard on Friday morning and she looked fantastic," said the Leyburn-based trainer.
"She moved great and looking at her physically I couldn't be happier with her going into the race.
"She will improve for the run, fitness wise, but I'm excited to run her and I'm confident she retains all of her ability.
"I just want to see her run her race and if she gets beat for lack of fitness then so be it."
Burke is hoping the run will leave Quiet Reflection ready to do battle in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 21.
He added: "Hopefully she runs well and comes out of it well and we can head to Champions Day. That's the plan."
Quiet Reflection faces 10 rivals in the six-furlong Group Three, with the field headed by Tom Hogan's stable stalwart Gordon Lord Byron.
There is little doubt the three-time Group One winner has regressed slightly since his glory days, but he has been running consistently well this season and claimed a Group Two success in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh in May.
"He's in good old form," said Hogan.
"He's probably prefer it if the ground wasn't as deep as it is, but it's that time of year.
"It will be tough for him to give weight away all round, but we'll give it a go and hopefully he can pick up some prize-money."
The Joe Murphy-trained filly Only Mine is on a hat-trick following Listed triumphs at the Curragh and over this course and distance.
Murphy said: "We're a bit concerned about the ground. She doesn't mind an ease in it but the one time she ran in heavy ground before she couldn't use her speed.
"But it's the end of the season and it's a Group Three at home, so we'll give it a go and see what happens.
"She's in the big sprint at Ascot (on Champions Day), but we'll see how we go on Sunday before making any plans."
Aidan O'Brien's trio of Cougar Mountain, Peace Envoy and Alphabet and Willie McCreery's Downforce also feature.
