Quiet Reflection on course for Sprint showdown with Angel

Karl Burke has reported his resurgent sprinter Quiet Reflection in good shape after she notched her first win of 2017 and put herself on course for a showdown with Harry Angel at British Champions Day.

The two-time Group 1-winner missed the majority of this season following a disappointing seasonal debut in the Temple Stakes in May but bounced back to winning ways in the Renaissance Stakes – an aptly named comeback target – at Naas on Sunday, beating Alphabet by the best part of three lengths.

"I thought it was a very good performance under the circumstances," Burke said on Monday. "She didn't get the clearest of runs and had to cut down a proven horse with two or three lengths to make up, but she did that very well and then sprinted away from her.

"I'm over at Goffs at the sales just viewing yearlings today but I've spoken to home and she's come out of the race fine. She'll have a nice quiet week now before we start picking her up for Champions Day."

Quiet Reflection is set to go the sales in December but connections are not looking beyond next month's Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot, for which she is a best-priced 10-1 shot.

Harry Angel: 'I'd look forward to having a go at him,' says Karl BurkeCredit: Grossick Racing Photography

The exceptional Harry Angel heads the betting at no bigger than 6-4 following his scintillating Sprint Cup victory at Haydock this month, when Clive Cox's stable star sluiced through heavy going to confound those who doubted his ability to act on the surface.

Nevertheless, with Quiet Reflection sporting a superb record of six wins from seven races on ground good to soft or slower, Burke believes a soft-ground Champions Day would present Quiet Reflection with her best chance of overturning Harry Angel.

"We all know Harry Angel is an excellent horse and we may not be good enough to beat him, but I'd look forward to having a go at him," he said.

"And if it comes up soft it would be an interesting day – it would be a great race."

British Champions Sprint entries

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