Trainer Karl Burke has spoken in glowing terms about Two Thousand Guineas (G1) dark horse Night Raider and is hoping for a draw close to Kentucky-bred hot favorite City of Troy in the May 4 Newmarket classic.
Burke said that he has never had a horse work as well as Night Raider on the Polytrack gallop in Middleham and is hoping big-race jockey Danny Tudhope can stalk City of Troy before moving through the son of Dark Angel's "10 gears" in the closing stages.
"He's a lot of potential and a lot of ability and I don't think I've seen a horse work better in the 23 years we've been at Middleham," said Burke. "He's got an awfully high cruising speed and he can quicken off it as well. Clifford Lee rode him for the first time in a long time and said it was like driving a car with 10 gears. Every time you move on him, he goes forward.
"Danny Tudhope loves him and I wouldn't mind having a bet that there's nothing traveling any better than him a furlong and a half out, and we'll see what we do after that."
Night Raider has yet to race on turf but impressed Burke enough in his two career starts on Tapeta at Southwell for his trainer to make a "small" investment when he was 40-1 for the Two Thousand Guineas. Those odds have tumbled to a general 16-1, with Dewhurst Stakes (G1) winner City of Troy odds-on at 4-6 with most bookmakers at the top of the market.
Burke added: "There's no real pressure with him and there's a few runners there with bigger reputations, so hopefully we can burst a few balloons. I hope he's drawn near to City of Troy so Danny can sit and follow him through the race."
Burke is also responsible for One Thousand Guineas (G1) favorite Fallen Angel and reiterated his belief that last season's group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner is the form choice in Sunday's classic.
"I think they've got us to beat," said Burke. "I know Ballydoyle will give you plenty of excuses for Ylang Ylang's defeat in the Moyglare, but she's got more than 10 lengths to make up on us. On all known form, I think we deserve to be favorite."
Fallen Angel was put through her paces in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket's Craven meeting earlier this month and has come on considerably since that exercise, according to her trainer.
"She needed that gallop, came out of it really well and has taken a big step forward," said Burke. "She did a good piece of work again on Friday and I'm very happy with her."
