‘I’ve always loved the buzz of the sales ring’ - Burke turns his attention to the top of the market with 3,015,000gns Book 1 haul

Having done more hard yards than most, Karl Burke is now firmly established among the training ranks’ elite operators. Having saddled major winners for a range of powerhouse owners, including the likes of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Wathnan Racing, the North Yorkshire-based handler sits in fourth in the trainers’ championship. 

In line with his new-found – and unquestionably hard-earned – status, Burke signed for six yearlings at a combined cost of 3,015,000gns during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. That investment made the trainer and his daughters, Kelly and Lucy, the fifth biggest individual buyer at a barnstorming renewal of the blue-chip auction. 

Burke’s biggest acquisitions came on day three when he signed for two lots by Night Of Thunder, one colt and one filly, at 750,000gns and 775,000gns respectively. The former, a 210,000gns pinhook sold through WH Bloodstock, is a half-brother to the Listed-winning Epic Poet and the Listed-placed La Filomena. 

“He’s a lovely horse,” said Burke. “Night Of Thunder has had a fantastic run of it as a stallion and I’m delighted to get him. We’ve had a couple by the sire before, Flight Plan and Thunder Run, who’s a developing three-year-old. Night Of Thunder’s had a fantastic year on the racecourse and he’s a very good stallion. 

"This is a lovely, athletic colt and I’m delighted to get him and the filly earlier. They’ve both been bought for an existing owner in the yard.”

The Night Of Thunder colt out of Sagaciously heads to Karl Burke at Book 1Credit: Laura Green

On securing such high-end stock, Burke added: “It’s a privilege to be given the responsibility, and I do take it as a responsibility. You want to be buying nice horses for that sort of money. The market has been crazy strong this week, but when people want these sorts of horses then you have to pay that sort of price.” 

The six lots Burke signed for are not the only recruits heading to his Spigot Lodge Stables. Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing is also sending Burke the 625,000gns Dubawi colt out of Criteria and, more significantly, the Wootton Bassett colt out of Park Bloom who fetched a record-breaking 4,300,000gns. 

The seven-figure spree is a far cry from the kind of purchases upon which Burke built his reputation. Dual top-level winner Odeliz was picked up for just €22,000, Prix Morny winner Unfortunately cost €24,000, Dandalla was signed for by Kelly Burke at €22,000, while Toocoolforschool was a 16,000gns breeze-up buy. 

Expanding on the fundamentals of his selection process, Burke said: “For me, physical is more important than pedigree, and certainly when you’re buying the lesser-bred horses. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how well bred a horse is, if it’s got some sort of physical or conformational problem then it won’t run. I’ve always gone on that basis and when I’m looking at a horse, that always comes first.” 

Odeliz: dual Group 1 winner cost just €22,000Credit: Laura Green

Asked if the upgraded budgets he is now operating with have meant a change to his approach, he said: “It means you can afford to buy the pedigrees that match the physicals, or certainly have a go at them. I’m very lucky to be in this position and I’m just very grateful to the owners that are supporting us.” 

Burke has been active from the get-go this sales season, and a scroll through the list of his purchases shows that he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots. While the 775,000gns Night Of Thunder filly out of the Group 3-winning Monica Sheriff was his most expensive acquisition, his cheapest, a daughter of Kodi Bear, sire of his Queen Mary Stakes winner Leovanni, cost just 8,000gns. 

“I love the sales,” he said. “It’s hard work and if you want to do the job properly then you’ve got to put in the hours and the legwork, but I’ve always loved the buzz of the sales ring. Then beyond that I love getting them home and seeing them develop. We’re very lucky that we’ve managed to buy some nice horses down the years and trained them throughout their careers.” 

He added: “Just because you’re looking at the supposedly lesser sales with lesser pedigrees doesn’t always mean you’re dealing with lesser racehorses. My motto has always been that there’s a good horse at every sale, you’ve just got to try to find it.” 

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