Silky Wilkie is all Heart

Fri 10 Jun 2022

WINNER 57 OF 2022: SILKY WILKIE, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee: 'The Watch Irish Racing on Racing TV Handicap' over 5 f at Haydock.

Drawn in 9 towards the rail, he was at the back of the field for the first half of the race. The action was happening towards the far side of the track so he was racing on his own, as Clifford asked him for an effort 2f out. He still had plenty to do 1f out, but was making headway inside the final furlong, but you still couldn't see him on the screen! Still runnning on, he entered the frame at the 1/2 pole and ran on well to cause a photo finish on the line in head bob! We waited with fingers crossed and then the announcement came, that he had won - by a nose! (See the photo finish frame in the gallery.) He really has his sire's head carriage - Mehmas has really stamped his progeny with that and this certainly helped on the line.

"Silky Wlkie is running on, down the nearside....." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/394400-watch-irish-racing-on-racing-tv-handicap-5

Timeform rated it as a career best 84 performance, saying: "Down in grade, produced a career best to record to second success, producing a rare rattle from off the pace; dived right leaving stalls, raced near side, in rear, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead post; he may have even more to offer when eventually trying 6f.”

Karl was there, along with two of Silky Wilkie's owners. He said in his Racing TV interview: "I am delighted, he deserves that. He had to race alone and everything happened across from him, but he's tough!"

See the official photo gallery here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/vph.asp

Syndicate manager Mike says: "A comfy win there! From where he was for most of the race that was a remarkable last furlong from him and a great ride from Clifford to get him there right on the line. As Karl said in his post race interview, he is so tough. Well done to his owners, he has been a fine horse for them so far: From his 9 starts, his finishing positions are 2,2,2,2,1,2,2,4,1”

All eyes are on Royal Ascot next week and when Karl mentioned a potential entry for him in the 5f  £100,000 Class 2 Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes on Friday, this was another syndicate whose excitement levels were suddenly increased! Look out for a story this weekend about all our potential Royal Ascot runners. It could well be our biggest ever team heading to the Royal Meeting, which, when you assess our incredible form this year, makes absolute sense!