Got To Love A Grey follows up on impressive debut in Marygate one-two for Karl Burke

Royal Ascot is next for Karl Burke's Got To Love A Grey and Dorothy Lawrence after the stablemates finished first and second in the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York.

Got To Love A Grey ran out a six-length winner when well supported for her racecourse debut at Nottingham last month and was sent off at 5-2 for Friday's Listed contest on the Knavesmire under Sam James.

Dorothy Lawrence, stepped forward from her last run to finish second, with 13-8 favourite Persian Dreamer reopposing. The daughter of Soldier's Call was sent off at 9-1 and seemed to have come on from her first outing to run an excellent race in defeat.

Got To Love A Grey raced up with the pace from the off over the straight five furlongs and while Dorothy Lawrence moved into her slipstream looking a huge threat, the leader pulled out more when asked for an effort and was half a length in front passing the post.

Persian Dreamer finished only fourth, while Gaiden came with a late run to finish third.

Burke said: “It’s been a frustrating week, we’ve had about five seconds and picked up nearly £100,000 I think in two days, all without having a winner. To get the winner was needed.

“I thought the second filly would be the winner, she’s very quick and she travelled very strong there and didn’t quite see it out as well as the winner. Take nothing away from the winner though, she’s so honest and such a lovely filly.

“Sam said she was first in the stalls and they were all messing about for ages. She just jumped out and away she goes.”

When asked about plans, the trainer added: “The Queen Mary or the Albany (for the winner), she’s shown us on a fast track that she’s quick enough and you need to stay well at Ascot so it probably makes sense to go for the Queen Mary.

“I’d be quite happy to send her (Dorothy Lawrence) there as well, Ryan (Moore) thought we should give her a chance so we’ll see.

“I think that’s our eighth or ninth two-year-old winner so we’ve got off to a great start and there’s some lovely Dubawis and Frankels and Galileos to come later on, there’s a nice team.”

The winning rider said: “I’m just pleased to be on her. I won on her at Nottingham, but the connections didn’t have to leave me on her.

“I thought the ground might be on the quick side as she seemed to like the soft at Nottingham, but she’s very versatile.

“I think she’ll get six furlongs. The speed I was able to travel at up in class, I wouldn’t be averse to going up in trip, but Karl knows more than I do. She wasn’t stopping at the line.”