Owen Burrows on Hukum and the rest of his star-studded string

‘Further down the line, we’ll have to consider the King George and the major middle-distance races’

THIS season is hugely important for Owen Burrows, who is now training in his own right and not in a salaried role for Shadwell Estate, as he had been since starting out in 2016. With a fabulous second half to last season, he caught the eye of several owners who have now sent him horses, along with around a dozen belonging to Shadwell owner Sheikha Hissa and a similar number from Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

“I was given a good deal when leasing the yard, which was very kind as they could just as easily have sold the stable,” he says. “With this being my first season as my own boss I’m in a very lucky position to have horses like Hukum and Anmaat, and the support of Sheikha Hissa and Sheikh Ahmed has been amazing. Add to that the number of new owners who have come on board and we’re in a very nice position. I have 40 boxes but there will be seven new ones going up at the end of next month, so we’re looking to expand. We have just over 50 in at the moment, which is a very manageable number.”

He has already repaid the faith that Shadwell have placed in him this year with victory in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan with Anmaat, while Hukum’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes success over Desert Crown has whetted the appetite for the big championship races.

Burrows adds: “We’re very lucky to have such lovely horses and there are many more I’m keen to get out and see what they can do. Alflaila, who did so well last season, will hopefully be back by the end of next month. Before then, Hukum is being aimed at the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and Anmaat is being prepared for a possible tilt at the Eclipse.

“It’s important that we improve year on year and, with a Group 1 already in the bag, we have much to look forward to.”