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Karl Burke unearths another promising filly as Celestial Queen gets off the mark

DONCASTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 26: Trainer Karl Burke poses for a photo at Doncaster Racecourse on June 26, 2020 in Doncaster, England. (Photo by Dan Abraham/Pool via Getty Images)
Karl Burke: 'She's a nice filly, she was just very backward last year'Credit: Dan Abraham (Getty Images/Pool)

Karl Burke's hopes of a 1,000 Guineas bid with Dandalla may have been dashed, but he unveiled another promising three-year-old filly when Celestial Queen registered a first win.

The 200,000gns yearling, out of Fillies' Mile runner-up Agnes Stewart, was an impressive winner of the mile handicap for three-year-olds.

After she had carried the Clipper Logistics colours to a smooth success by two and a half lengths, Burke said: "She's a nice filly, she was just very backward last year.

"We ran her a couple of times and it didn't quite work out for her. She ran a nice race at Doncaster on her reappearance and we came here thinking we had a good chance.

"We'll see what the handicapper does but there's a mile fillies' race at Nottingham next week, which she could go for."

Dandalla: one-time 1,000 Guineas hope will revert to sprinting
Dandalla: one-time 1,000 Guineas hope will revert to sprintingCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Dandalla, winner of the Albany Stakes and Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes over 6f last year, was only seventh in the 7f Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury.

"We don't think she quite stayed," Burke said. "She looked as though she was coming to be third, but her run petered out.

"We took her out of the Guineas and she'll probably go for the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock."

Noble mission

Apprentice Cameron Noble continued his quest to rebuild his career in Britain by riding his first winner on turf this season on the Roger Varian-trained newcomer Exuding in the fillies' novice event.

The 3lb claimer, 22, rode a personal-best 27 winners in 2018 when he dead-heated for the Ayr Gold Cup on Baron Bolt.

But a trip to the other side of the world ended up costing him much of the 2020 campaign, as he said: "I went to Australia for three months last year and when I got back it took a long time to get my licence back.

"But it's starting to pick up. It's nice to get back in the swing of things and this has been a good year, considering.

"I've not been getting too many rides but I had four winners in January, three for Roger who has continued to support me well. Tony Carroll has also been very good to me."

Exuding came from behind to win going away and Noble said: "She's still very raw and she's still got a lot to learn, but the penny dropped with her in the final three."

Cameron Noble (right) dead-heated with Chris Hayes for the Ayr Gold Cup in 2018
Cameron Noble (right) dead-heated with Chris Hayes for the Ayr Gold Cup in 2018Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hot trainer

Grant Tuer continued his fine run of form when Maison De York made a winning reappearance in the other three-year-old mile handicap under PJ McDonald.

It was the trainer's third winner from his last five runners.

Groom taken to hospital

A stable groom was taken to James Cook hospital for assessment of a head injury after a frightening incident in the parade ring.

She was kicked and trampled on before the claimer and the race was off nearly 25 minutes late as she was treated at the scene.

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