the THOMAS HARDY syndicate
Initial Price: £9,950 plus VAT // Number of shares: 20 // Trainer: Karl Burke
(2025 bf - Starman ex Wild Place)
The thomas hardy Syndicate
Number of horses:1
Cost per horse: 75,000 gns
Number of shares: 20
Initial price: £9,950 plus VAT
Second year cost for three-year-old career: £5,600 plus VAT
Trainer: karl burke
*all VAT recoverable
Download the Fact Sheet
Download the Pedigree
KARL BURKE
Location: Leyburn, Yorkshire. Set in the heart of Yorkshire near Middleham, Spigot Lodge has proved a successful training establishment for Karl Burke since its inception in 2000.
Burke took out his license in 1991 and is no stranger to success at the highest level, with 21 G1 victories to his name. Burke’s years of training are invaluable, and he continues to break his own training records year on year. In his last five seasons alone, he has produced over 500 winners, ending 2025 with nearly £4 million in prize money.
Many a stable star has been produced from Burke’s training establishment, most notably Laurens, who he trained to an incredible 6 G1 victories, including The Prix de Diane in Chantilly. Libertarian also provided Burke with a historic victory in the Dante at York in 2013, the first Yorkshire-trained winner in over 70 years. Since his first Royal Ascot victory with Quiet Reflection in 2016, Karl has not looked back becoming the first trainer in over twenty years to win the Queen Mary (Group 2) and Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) when Leovanni and Shareholder both stormed home to win at the 2024 Royal meeting. Venetian Sun stormed home for Burke in this year’s Commonwealth Cup.
Karl and Highclere have already enjoyed great success with the likes of the multiple-group race winning Spycatcher, who most recently won at Chantilly, in the Prix de Seine-et-Oise (Group 3).
Spigot Lodge visits are always hugely enjoyed, with an array of delicious Yorkshire dining establishments to frequent for suppers ahead of the morning visits. We are delighted to continue our association with Karl and the brilliant team at Spigot Lodge.