Soul Love bags Renaissance for in-form Burke

Karl Burke will consider supplementing Soul Love for British Champions Day at Ascot after she claimed her first Group-race success in the Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh.

A daughter of owner David Ward’s top-class sprinter Starman, Soul Love had previously won in Listed company at Goodwood and Naas and was only narrowly denied a Group Three win on her return to the latter venue last month, going down by half a length to Chantez.

The British raider was a 5-2 joint-favourite to go one better at Group Three level on her return to Ireland and after dictating affairs from the front throughout, she found plenty for Pierre-Louis Jamin’s urgings to see off the veteran course favourite Big Gossey by three-quarters of a length.

Burke said: “I’m delighted with that. We didn’t know if she’d handle the ground so heavy but we were here and we had what we thought was a good draw up the stands’ rail, which I think you need here on the soft ground, so we decided to take our chance

“Pierre is very good from the front. She jumped quick and got into a nice rhythm. I was a bit surprised the Amo horse (Power Blue) didn’t take us on a bit more, I thought that might try and spoil it for us. We were very comfortable from a long way out.

“We’ve been very lucky here in Ireland. Naas, the Curragh and Leopardstown have all been lucky places for us.”

While Soul Love is set to be sold before the end of the year, Burke raised the possibility of a potential swansong in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 17, for which she would have to be supplemented at a cost of £37,500.

“I believe Soul Love has a date at the December mares’ sale in Newmarket, but it might be a bit of a no brainer now to throw her hat into the ring for Champions Day at Ascot,” Burke added.

“We’d have no qualms now if it came up soft and it’s a discussion to be had. The prize-money she’s won today would help with the supplementary fee, so we’ll see.”