Exciting month ahead for Burrows as he prepares three Group 1 contenders

It could be a landmark month for in-form trainer Owen Burrows as he prepares to saddle leading contenders in three top-level races.

Burrows, who has not yet won a Group 1, will first run 8-1 shot Tabdeed in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The five-year-old took the step into Group company in his stride when winning the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury on his most recent start, beating The Tin Man by half a length under Jim Crowley.

"He's got to step up in class again after winning nicely last time, but it will be good to know where we stand with him," said Burrows, who primarily trains for leading owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.

"You've got to roll the dice sometimes and hopefully the ground dries out a bit."

Hukum, who provided the trainer with his first Royal Ascot winner when landing this year's King George V Stakes, will be his first St Leger runner on September 12 and is a general 9-2 in the betting.

Hukum wins the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Geoffrey Freer StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He's worked well since winning the Geoffrey Freer last time and he deserves to take his chance," said Burrows. "He's still relatively inexperienced, but he did it well and picked up when Jim [Crowley] asked him to. I'm not too worried about stepping him up in trip."

Speaking after his 2,000th domestic winner at Goodwood on Sunday, it became clear that winning a Classic is one career goal Crowley is also keen to tick off with Hukum in less than two weeks' time.

"I’ve won Classics abroad but I’ve been second in an Oaks and in the Leger – I’m not counting but that would be the one I’d love to do. I’ve hit the crossbar in nearly all of them now," said Crowley.

Burrows also plans to run talented juvenile Minzaal, who justified favouritism in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes last month, in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 26.

"He came out of the race well and the plan is to step him up in class for the Middle Park," added Burrows. "He had only run 12 days before in a novice, so we chucked him in at the deep end a little bit. His work suggested he was up to running at that level.

"He's going to take on the best of the bunch again, but hopefully there's improvement to come from him. I felt months ago we'd been sent the best bunch of two-year-olds since I started training.

Minzaal: winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I personally don't see him being a Guineas horse next season. He's got too much speed and looks more like a Commonwealth Cup horse. Jim has mentioned how much raw speed he's got and I'd be surprised if he stayed a mile, but we'll consider all options for him."

The Lambourn trainer has enjoyed an excellent start to the season and operated at a 29 per cent strike-rate last month with six winners from 21 runners, including two successes at Group level.

He has not struck at Group 1 level but has had several runners, including Talaayeb, who was fourth in the 2017 1,000 Guineas, and Massaat, second in the 2,000 Guineas the previous year.

"It's exciting to have three chances in Group 1s and, God willing, we can bag one of them. We've made a great start to the season and it's great to be banging in a few big winners for the boss."

More stories:

Four reasons to smile for Jim Crowley and Hamdan Al Maktoum on top day at York

'Treat him like a good horse' - Burrows eyeing Group races for exciting juvenile

Tabdeed digs deep to deny old stager The Tin Man in thrilling finale

First royal winner for Burrows as Hukum strikes in King George V Stakes

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