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| Sumita Pawar |
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Owen Burrows has no doubt that Hukum will require the best performance of his career to win the upcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot. However, the trainer is excited about the opportunity to see if his top horse is capable of delivering the desired results.
Hukum, a Shadwell homebred, gave Owen Burrows his first Group One win in the Coronation Cup last year. Unfortunately, he was unable to compete for the rest of the season.
Hukum's Triumphant Return Shocks Racing World
However, Hukum made a remarkable comeback in May by defeating last year's Derby winner, Desert Crown, in Sandown's Brigadier Gerard Stakes. As a result, he is currently priced at 6-1 for the upcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
King George is expected to be a highly competitive race, with Desert Crown, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel (this season's Derby one-two), Emily Upjohn (a talented filly), and Pyledriver (who defeated Hukum in last year's King George) all likely to participate.
Burrows, whose classy Anmaat has recently been ruled out for the rest of 2023, said, "I don't want to bleat on about bad luck, but we're due some good luck and we're very pleased with Hukum.
"A little bit of rain about next week will hopefully mean we're not worrying about the ground, but it looks a strong race – the strongest it's been for years. It should be like that, though.
"We've kept him ticking over since we missed the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot [because of quick ground] and he's a pleasure to train. His work has stepped up in the last few weeks and Jim [Crowley] has been in and ridden him in some good bits, so, touch wood, all is good.
"I've been very pleased with him and Jim has been delighted with him. He's showing us all the right signs, similar to how he was before Brigadier Gerard at Sandown."
The older male horses in the race, Hukum, Pyledriver, and Desert Crown, will have to carry an additional 11lb compared to the three-year-old market leaders, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, in King George.
"You respect them all and I wouldn't pinpoint one horse as the big danger," the Lambourn trainer added. "Those three-year-olds are clashing with the older generation for the first time, so we'll see where we stand.
"We're giving weight away and, at this time of year, I personally like to take on an older horse with an improving three-year-old because it's a fair chunk of weight to give them, and that's not just in Group races, but run-of-the-mill ones."
With that in mind, Burrows is fully aware of the challenge facing his 6YO.
Asked if career-best was needed, he replied, "Massively, definitely. You'd be foolish not to say that. He'll have to be at the top of his A game and more, but we're not going to find out how he'll get on if he's stood in his box at home."
Hukum's stablemate Anmaat, successful in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan on his last start, was being aimed at this month's Eclipse, but a foot problem prevented that and will force him on to the sidelines for an extended period.
"It's a complex issue and I wouldn't be qualified enough to explain the full ins and outs, but he's done for the year," Burrows said.