Clifford Lee

Bolstered by a confidence-boosting score at Newmarket earlier this month, Abdulrazaq Mohamdi's homebred G2 German 2000 Guineas runner-up Shayem (King Of Change) upset the odds-on favourite Talk Of New York (Wootton Bassett) and lowered the track record with a defiant display in Friday's G3 HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. "We knew Billy [Loughnane] was going to go off at a nice gallop and Cliff [Lee] was the only one really to keep tabs on him," said Burke. "Cliff is very good with his fractions and, from three out,...

For the second consecutive year, Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup was all about the fillies on Friday with favourite backers ultimately breathing a sigh of relief as Venetian Sun (Starman) edged it from Spicy Marg (Starspangledbanner). Always travelling notably smoothly for Clifford Lee up the centre of the track, last year's Prix Morny and Albany heroine had to fight to deny the 50-1 outsider and Tom Marquand in the run to the line but was equal to the task to record a head success. Next home was the stands' side...

Rathbarry Stud have not had too long to wait for the first winner for their first-season sire State Of Rest as Anad scored on debut at Wolverhampton on Friday. Sent off the 2-1 favourite for the extended seven-furlong fillies' novice, the Karl Burke-trained €150,000 Goffs Orby Book 2 topper raced in rear throughout the early stages. Sent forward by Clifford Lee on the home turn, Alanood Althani's colour-bearer was notably green after hitting the front a furlong out but firmly in command as she registered a head verdict over Shadwell's...

With Haydock's two sprint Group 2s going ahead after early drama on Saturday's card, it was Karl Burke and Clifford Lee who were the most relieved as they pulled off the double with Night Raider (Dark Angel) in the William Hill Temple Stakes. Sent off the 3-1 favourite for the five-furlong test, having marked his first run since a gelding op with an all-the-way win in Newmarket's G3 Palace House Stakes earlier this month, Wathnan's representative wasn't asked to lead this time with his rider in supreme form. Delivered to...

Significantly delayed by the discovery of a drainage hole in the home straight, Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes eventually played out with a compensatory dazzling performance from the high-class Venetian Sun (Starman). Reverting to six furlongs after failed efforts over further in the Moyglare and the 1,000 Guineas, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny heroine went through this contest as if operating on a different level and only needed encouraging late on to dismiss Division (Kingman) by three lengths. Spicy Marg (Starspangledbanner) was another 1 1/2 lengths away in...

Karl Burke is currently unleashing his big Royal Ascot prospects and Wednesday saw another enter the picture in Ruler's Pride (Mehmas) at Ayr. Making his debut in the five-furlong card opener for Wathnan Racing, the 30-100 favourite who cost £550,000 when the highest-priced colt at last month's Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale was soon in front of his two rivals under Clifford Lee. Strong to the line, the relative of the high-class Campanelle (Kodiac) had 3 1/4 lengths to spare over the Faheys' fellow newcomer Crystal Queen (Cotai Glory), with...

Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) will face 18 peers in Sunday's G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Ryan Moore set to partner the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies' Mile winner for the first time. She is drawn two for the mile Classic, with one of her chief rivals Venetian Sun (Starman) next door in stall one furthest away from the stands' rail. Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny winner is one of two in the race for Karl Burke, with her regular rider Clifford Lee maintaining the partnership. Burke's other runner...

Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), runner-up in last term's G1 Deutsches Derby, won the best-turned-out award prior to Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise John Porter Stakes at Newbury and claimed the main prize after overcoming traffic problems in the straight to register a third Group-race triumph. "If we can keep him sound and going the right way I think there is a Group 1 in him for sure," said Burke. "I suppose he could be the best we've had over these distances and before him it would be...

Sent off at 9-1 for Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, Alparslan (Dandy Man) belied the lack of market confidence to prevail in the 2,000 Guineas trial. Sent to the front by Clifford Lee, Mohamed Saeed Al Shehhi's Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes winner who was sixth in the Dewhurst stayed on strongly to deny Zavateri (Without Parole) by a length. The winner's trainer Karl Burke is unsure whether to take the plunge at Newmarket in a fortnight. "It's a case of which Guineas to...

Jockey Clifford Lee, who has been hospitalised with a neck injury since a moterbike accident last month, is recovering, according to trainer Karl Burke. The jockey was on holiday while serving a suspension after winning his last four rides, and sustained a neck injury in Scotland. He is slated to be moved from Edinburgh to Middlesbrough in the coming days. Lee celebrated his first Group 1 win aboard Venetian Sun (Starman) in the G1 Prix Morny this year. There have also been several other notable wins this season aboard Royal...

Trainer Karl Burke expects to have a clearer idea of the severity of Clifford Lee's injuries later this week after the jockey was hospitalised following a motorbike accident in Scotland. Lee has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the Flat, highlighted by a first Group 1 success aboard Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny, as well as several other big-race wins aboard the likes of Royal Champion, Al Qareem and Convergent. The rider is currently serving a suspension and was in Scotland with family when he took a fall from a...

Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), who had hit the board in a stellar edition of May's G3 Chester Vase and July's G1 Deutsches Derby, gained his black-type breakthrough in the G3 Kilternan five weeks ago and climbed another rung up the ladder with a career best in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp. "The race panned out exactly how I wanted it to," said winning rider Clifford Lee. "It was a strong gallop, but he's one of those that doesn't want being in front too soon....