Night Raider likely to be saved for turf sprint campaign

Karl Burke is eyeing major sprint prizes for one-time Classic hope Night Raider.

The son of Dark Angel colt made a huge impression in winning his first two starts on the all-weather at Southwell and was subsequently thrown in the deep end in last year’s 2000 Guineas.

He was well beaten over the Rowley Mile and when contesting the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, but has recently bounced back with successive wins at Kempton and Newcastle, including an impressive display in the Listed Golden Rose Stakes in mid-November.

While a trip to Dubai has been under consideration, Night Raider looks set to remain on home soil and with all-weather options limited, he will likely be saved until the spring.

Burke said: “He was a horse that could have gone out to Dubai, but the owners (Clipper Logistics) have decided against it.

“There’s pros and cons for going out there obviously, but he’s never run on fast ground on turf so he would have had a chance to do that and there were Listed and Group races for him.

“If he didn’t go out there there’s nothing for him on the all-weather because the Finals Day races are nearly all handicaps now and we’re not going to do that as he’s rated 111 and we’re hoping to make him into a stallion.

“We’ll probably have to wait for either the Duke of York or the Temple Stakes, unless I can persuade Steve (Parkin) to go out to Dubai for World Cup night or something, we’ll see.”

Reflecting on his disappointing runs on turf last term, the trainer added: “He just didn’t stay in the Guineas and he’s obviously a sprinter. He’s probably quick enough for five furlongs, never mind six.

“He won his first two races over seven and was always relaxed enough at home so we thought we had a good chance of staying the mile, but it’s always different on the racetrack.”