Burke confident over Havana Grey chances despite strong US hand in Turf Sprint

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | 5½f, Grade 1 | 3yo+ | ATR

In a race that has been dominated by US-trained horses since its inception in 2008, North Yorkshire trainer Karl Burke will be hoping for a career-best performance from Havana Grey.

His star sprinter faces 13 rivals under PJ McDonald in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Saturday, including the Aidan O'Brien-trained Lost Treasure, the mount of Ryan Moore.

Havana Grey has been a model of consistency over the past two seasons, winning the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh in September, his first victory at the highest level.

He subsequently finished in midfield in the Prix de l'Abbaye, beaten two and three-quarter lengths by Mabs Cross, and Burke said: "The travel's gone brilliantly. He’s taken it all in his stride and eaten up – we’ve had no issues at all.

Watch the replay of Havana Grey's victory in the Flying Five Stakes

"The Abbaye was a good race so I wasn’t too disappointed with his run and he certainly didn't disgrace himself. He’s really bounced out of that and I’d say, if anything, he’s in better form now than he was before Paris."

In what will be his final run before he is retired to stud, the three-year-old tackles a bend for the first time in his career.

"Running round a bend is very much an unknown as he’s never done it before, and the bend at Churchill Downs really is sharp," his trainer added.

"We hope he'll handle it, but there's no way of knowing until the race."

The other half of the European challenge is Ballydoyle's Lost Treasure who, like Havana Grey, is a relatively inexperienced three-year-old but whose two most recent performances, in the Abbaye and the Group 3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk, earned him another crack at the top level.

"He has unbelievable ability, but is a bit of a character," said O'Brien. "He's a very fast horse but gets to the front and waits.

"If they go hard and the ground is nice, he'll travel through it well. It will be interesting. With a horse like that, things have to fall for you. You can win a short head, or you can get beat a length."

A typically strong group of US-trained sprinters head the market, and the first four home last year are all back for more and will have their supporters.

Stormy Liberal beat his Peter Miller-trained stablemate Richard's Boy by a head 12 months ago at Del Mar, with Disco Partner and Bucchero close up in third and fourth.

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