Racing: Havana Grey aims to shade his rivals in Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster Races

Buoyed by the terrific victories yesterday of Ellthea, who sprinted clear under Clifford Lee, and Laurens who took the feature May Hill Stakes under PJ McDonald, he holds Havana Grey in the highest of regard.

A trainer who wears his heart on the proverbial sleeve, Burke has made no secret of the regard in which he held these future stars – the test was whether their form on Middleham’s gallops could be replicated on the racetrack.

Havana Grey – the mount of the aforementioned McDonald who is in the form of his life – claimed a fourth victory of the campaign with a dominant front-running display over this five-furlong distance in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood at the start of last month.

The colt then found only stablemate Unfortunately too strong when stepped up to six furlongs and Group One level in the Prix Morny at Deauville almost three weeks later.

Yet Havana Grey will have to concede three pounds to the filly Heartache whose trainer, Clive Cox, has enjoyed so much success this year with superstar sprinter Harry Angel.

Heartache was a close up third to the aforementioned Unfortunately in France earlier in the season and fully respects his principle opponent.

“We’re really looking forward to running Havana Grey. He’s fresh and well and came back from the Prix Morny in great form,” said Leyburn-based Burke.

“Clive Cox’s filly is obviously very quick. Whether she did or didn’t run her race in the Prix Robert Papin behind Unfortunately, we’ll find out.

“Whether she’ll be as quick as Havana Grey over five furlongs, I don’t know, but it will be an interesting clash.”

Burke also reports last year’s dual Group One winner Quiet Reflection to be on track for her comeback race at Naas on Sunday week before taking on the likes of Harry Angel in next month’s Qipco Champions Sprint at Ascot.

He’s buoyed by the gact that Quiet Reflection’s winning time in last season’s Sprint Cup at Haydock was half a second quicker than Harry Angel’s last Saturday on ground that was equally arduous. “I’m very happy with her,” he reported.

Meanwhile David Simcock expects Sheikhzayedroad to put up a strong defence of his crown in the Doncaster Cup.

The eight-year-old has been a magnificent servant to his connections over the years, earning over £1m in prize-money with big-race triumphs at home and abroad.

“He’ll have conditions to suit and he seems in good order,” said Simcock. “We’ve done little with him and hopefully he can run very well. The one thing he is consistent. I’m never disappointed and if he doesn’t win it won’t be the end of the world.”

Sheikhzayedroad enjoyed a brilliant end to the last campaign, following up his narrow victory in this Group Two event with success in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.

He has not yet discovered his best form so far this season, finishing sixth in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and seventh in the Goodwood Cup, but his fourth-placed finish in the Lonsdale Cup at York offers hope.

“Scenarios didn’t go right at Ascot and Goodwood but we rode him a bit more off the pace at York and he finished off well,” said the Newmarket trainer.

“He’s like me, he’s getting a little bit older and slower. The two and a quarter miles at Doncaster might just suit him.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Montaly brings the strongest recent form to the table having won the Lonsdale Cup three weeks ago under the aforementioned McDonald.

However Balding’s number one jockey Oisin Murphy is free to ride Montaly – the combination won the Chester Cup earlier in the year – and then stablemate Count Octave in tomorrow’s St Leger.

A fascinating field includes Malton trainer Peter Niven’s ever popular Clever Cookie, though the drying ground is not ideal for the veteran, while Great Habton’s Tim Easterby saddles High Jinx.

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FRANKIE Dettori has elected to ride Coronet over better-fancied stablemate Stradivarius in tomorrow’s William Hill St Leger at Doncaster because of the drying ground.

Trained by John Gosden, Coronet chased home stablemate Enable – arguably the horse of the year – in the Yorkshire Oaks last month. The ride on Royal Ascot winner Stradivarius goes to James Doyle.

Irish Derby winner Capri, the mount of Ryan Moore, spearheads a four-strong team trained by Aidan O’Brien. The Ballydoyle handler goes to Doncaster in search of a fifth success in the world’s oldest Classic.

In contrast, O’Brien’s son, Joseph, saddles Rekindling just four years after steering Leading Light to Leger glory as a jockey.

Sir Michael Stoute has a leading contender in Crystal Ocean, who warmed up for his big day with victory in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood while Roger Varian’s Defoe – the mount of Andrea Atzeni – is unbeaten from four starts this season.