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Hi All
Just picked up on this thread as late as it is and as a nephew of Willie Burke i would like to speak in his defence if i may as regards the 1964 King George.Santa Claus was beaten by a combination of a small field of four runners , the short straight at Ascot but more importantly the firm ground that prevailed on the day. Bill Pyers in fairness rode an intelligent race on Nasram.Neither Lester Piggott or Scobie Breasley would have won on him as Santa Claus in racing parlance would simply not let himself down on the ground.Workforce showed that fancied horses can get beaten in the King George but went on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.Santa Claus incidentally just got touched off by a head in the same race(ridden by Jimmy Lindley!) so all great racehorses have their off day.I know for a fact that the trainer of Santa Claus was annoyed with Scobie Breasley for only winning by a head in the English Derby so thats where my Uncle Willie Burke stepped in in the Irish Derby in 1964 and won by a cosy 3-4 lengths and also had Lester Piggott behind!!!.
Many thanks,
Paul Burke
