Sunday’s French banker of the day is a British raider selected to make a strong comeback…
Poet Master (Karl Burke/ Pierre Louis Jamin)
Longchamp – R4 – Prix du Pin
- Winner of a Group 2 at the Curragh back in July 2024.
- Karl Burke yard in strong form.
- Proven performer fresh.
While respect must be afforded to Francis-Henri Graffard's hat-trick seeking Roshvar, Karl Burke's 27% strike rate over the past two weeks commands some attention when entering this five-year-old into Group 3 company on the back of a 170-day layoff.
The Middleham trainer is on the record suggesting that the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned gelding had plenty of scope for improvement back in March, but there were simply a lack of appropriate races available for him. Although somewhat disappointing since landing 2024's Minstrel Stakes, his two efforts thereafter were in highly-testing Group 1 and Group 2 company, and he might be forgiven a subpar ninth of nine in Listed class on latest appearance when hampered significantly in running. The form of that contest has proven somewhat hard to read, with the winner failing to back up in six starts to date, while subsequent Black Type performers Camille Pissarro, Officer, Princess Child, and Lord Massusus could be found down the field.
If anywhere near back to his best, Poet Master could prove an overpriced quantity in the Prix du Pin and warrants serious consideration.
