Owen Burrows | Horse Racing Free Tips

Burrows Charts Options for Minzaal Before Sprint Cup Tilt

Shadwell's Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) may mark his seasonal return at Nottingham next month in advance of a potential outing in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park Sept. 4. The G2 Gimcrack S. winner will use either the five-furlong British Stallion Studs EBF Conditions S. Aug. 10 or the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. at the Curragh over six furlongs Aug. 8 as a stepping stone to Haydock's marquee sprint event.

Minzaal was last sighted finishing third in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in October. Minzaal was forced to miss the first part of the 2021 season through injury.

“Minzaal is in good strong work now, but he is still carrying a good bit of weight and we need to sharpen him up now over the next couple of weeks,” trainer Owen Burrows said. “There are not a huge number of races around for horses like him, but I would like to think he would be ready in early August.”

In regard to taking the Nottingham route, he added, “He has never run over five furlongs before that might be an option to blow away the cobwebs. He is showing plenty of his old speed at home.”

While a trip to Ireland is the more high-profile option, Burrows believes that keeping Minzaal closer to home might be the better option.

“Both races slot in nicely in before the Sprint Cup and as long as it is not bottomless up at Haydock, which it can get, that is the type of race we want to be talking about,” he said. “It might be the more sensible option putting him in the box and going to Nottingham as it is not easy taking horses away at the moment.

“If we feel his first run will be needed then Nottingham would be the more favorable option.”

Minzaal is listed at 20-1 for the Betfair Sprint Cup.

“There is no pressure this year with him as he is a horse that will be staying in training as a 4-year-old,” he said. “It is nice to know we don't have to be panicking that time is of the essence with him.”

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Albasheer Guineas Bid In Doubt

Shadwell homebred Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal), a debut winner last July for trainer Owen Burrows before finishing second in the G2 Champagne S., could miss a Guineas bid this spring after meeting with a setback.

“Unfortunately he's had a little bit of a niggle,” said Burrows. “We're just in the process of investigating exactly what is bothering him. There are no immediate plans for him at the moment.

“He certainly won't be making a Guineas trial, and I'd say it would be highly unlikely, depending on what we find, that he'd make the Guineas. We're getting pretty close. It's very recent, and we're still in the investigating stages.”

Albasheer was last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Dewhurst S. on Oct. 10.

“I had been very pleased with him, so it's very disappointing and frustrating,” Burrows said. “Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious, but with the timing of it, we're going to be struggling. Ideally, the plan was to try for the [G3] Craven or the [G3] Greenham. He won't be making them, and I won't be rushing him just to make a Guineas. He's a proper nice horse, he's going to want a bit of time. How much time, we don't know yet.”

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Minzaal Recovering From Injury

Last season's G2 Gimcrack S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will make a belated start to his 3-year-old campaign after suffering a leg injury in his box at trainer Owen Burrows's stable.

“Unfortunately Minzaal injured himself in his box before Christmas,” said Burrows. “He's had to have surgery and he's back at [owner] Shadwell at the moment recuperating.”

The first key target for Minzaal's 3-year-old campaign had been the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but Burrows admitted it will be a race against time now.

“Whether or not he'll make Ascot will be just determined on how he progresses now. It's a shame,” the trainer said. “He must have banged a hind leg and has had a couple of chips removed off his hocks. Obviously the Commonwealth Cup was the plan. There's still a small chance. God willing, we'll have him back at some stage this year.”

Burrows is looking forward to another Shadwell colourbearer, last year's King George V S. and G3 Geoffrey Freer S. scorer Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), in 2021. He said of the 4-year-old, “He's back with me and looks to have done well over the winter. He's an exciting horse for us all. I have plans in my head, but nothing concrete as such yet.”

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Minzaal Benched, Commonwealth Cup Next

G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who won the G2 Gimcrack S. in late August for Shadwell and trainer Owen Burrows, will not be seen the rest of the year and instead will be pointed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot next June. A winner at second asking at Salisbury on Aug. 9, the bay quickly added the Gimcrack 12 days later and was not disgraced when third in the Middle Park on Sept. 26.

“Minzaal ran well in the Middle Park and he has come out of it fine, but that is him done for the season,” said Burrows. “He will be heading back up to Shadwell shortly for the winter. He is still very exciting and we will look forward to taking on the winner [Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) again next year. I don’t think we will be looking to go any further than six with him and the Commonwealth Cup will be the first aim.”

“We would give him a run before Ascot, as it is always hard to go Ascot in a normal year first time out. As long as he is well, we will try to find a prep race for him. Where we start before that, I’m not sure yet, but the [G3] Pavilion [S.] at Ascot is an obvious one then there is also the [G2] Sandy Lane [S.] The ground will be a factor, but it’s a long way off.”

“Mehmas was taken off to stud at two, but I can’t see any reason why this lad won’t train on. He is as chilled as you like. He is not small and I look forward to how he does over the winter. Hopefully he will come back a stronger horse next year. He is bang up there with the best of them.”

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