Owen Burrows fishing for Group 1 targets but can he Hukum?

A smart winner at Royal Ascot in the King George V Stakes, Hukum took the step up to Group 3 level in his stride in the Geoffrey Freer. Bigger targets will be the aim now for a yard who are yet to taste Group 1 success. The Owen Burrows stable are in flying form and in a year that looks far from vintage, he has a very smart three-year-old.

St Leger

The St Leger would look the most obvious target for the horse now. Having taken on the older horses and given them a beating over almost fourteen furlongs, he’s shown he stays strongly. He also showed himself to be just as effective on soft ground which is a huge plus with the autumn in mind.

He has only had four races in his life, winning the last three. That suggests there should be plenty more in the tank. His vanquished foe today included the 2019 runner-up in the same Newbury contest, Morando. He didn’t look at his best today but he was hammered by this progressive colt and that helps to set the level of form.

2021

Burrows mentioned after the race on RTV that his owner is tempted to mind him. He could easily make up into a cup horse next season with big staying races likely to be his target. The famous colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum are yet to pass the post first in a St Leger, however. 2021 has the potential to see him in a better light but the temptation to add another classic will surely prove a strong lure, especially in one he is yet to win.