Sandal’s Song joining Karl Burke following another big Ascot run Sandal’s Song may have found just Wesley Ward’s impressive Bacio too strong at Royal Ascot but could have more opportunities to make his mark on British soil having joined Karl Burke. Owned by Wathnan Racing and formally trained in the US by George Weaver, Sandal’s Song was third to Charles Darwin in last year’s Norfolk Stakes before returning to the Royal meeting to finish an honourable second over the same course and distance in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Having shown a liking for the British scene, he has now switched America for the North Yorkshire air of Middleham. Middleham Switch for American Raider Weaver said: “He seems to have a great affinity for the course there at Ascot and we were proud of his efforts. “We left him over in England and I’m not set up to train over there, so we’ve left him with Karl Burke thinking there might be some better opportunities for him over in England than in the States. Hopefully he will have a nice season.” Ward’s winner Bacio will be pointed towards the Nunthorpe, but with Sandal’s Song left on his mark of 99 after Ascot he could be given another chance to make that figure count at Goodwood in the Coral Handicap on the opening day of the Sussex track’s big summer festival. Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “He’s stayed over here and we’ve gelded him. He’s had a break after Ascot at the National Stud and the plan is he’ll join Karl. “Hopefully he will settle into the routine up there OK and of course it will be a big change, but if he does then we will look at running him in the five-furlong 0-105 handicap at Goodwood. He deserves another shot off his mark.”
