Exciting Laurens continues Burke dream season with Group 2 success

Karl Burke's exceptional season continued when he landed a double on day two of the St Leger Festival courtesy of Laurens, who was well backed into 11-4 favouritism before the Group 2 May Hill Stakes and edged out Dark Rose Angel in the final strides. The trainer had earlier won the nursery with the Clifford Lee-ridden Ellthea.

Burke, who has already claimed big race successes with fellow juveniles Havana Grey and Unfortunately this season, has always held Laurens in high regard and the market got it spot on with the lightly raced Siyouni filly who found just Polydream too good in a Group 3 in France last time.

Princess Margaret winner and trailblazer Nyaleti took up her customary position in the early stages, as Tajaanus, Sizzling and Laurens also took up prominent positions in a closely grouped field. Dark Rose Angel and She Believes were held up.

James Doyle said go on Nyaleti around two furlongs from home, and although Dark Rose Angel and Paul Mulrennan launched an impressive challenge in the centre of the track, the penny began to drop for Laurens, who had plenty of cover early on, and she stormed through to lead on the line. Nyaleti held on for third.

Burke said: "She's a lovely, good-natured filly. She's got the looks and she's got the class to match them. We've thought a lot of her for a long time and she was an expensive yearling as well."

He added: "It's a long time until next year – a week is a long time in the life of a racehorse – but if she gets to next year in one piece then she's got a big future."

"She's not in the Marcel Boussac – she could be supplemented if we wanted – but speaking to John [Dance, owner] before he was thinking one more run, so we'll see what happens."

The rangy filly earned a quote of 25-1 for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas with Paddy Power.

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