Night Raider, the Dark Angel colt trained by Karl Burke for Wathnan Racing, delivered a decisive win in the HKJC World Pool Palace House Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. After a calm prep and a clean break, the gelding surged clear to beat the 9-1 market favourite Rumstar by half a length, finishing in 9-1 winning odds.

Karl Burke explained that the winter gelding had shed ten kilograms, giving the horse a calmer temperament and improved stride. He said the colt struggled as a miler, often too keen and fractious, but the procedure turned him into a focused sprinter. Richard Brown, riding for Wathnan Racing, praised the effortless effort, noting the horse handled the course’s undulations with ease.

With the Palace House triumph secured, connections are eyeing the King Charles III Stakes at Ascot, while a run in the Minster Stakes at York remains a possibility if the trainer feels the colt is ready. The victory lifts Night Raider’s reputation, turning a previously temperamental horse into a serious contender in Britain’s top sprint contests.

Runner‑up Rumstar, last year’s Palace House champion, showed enough quality to stay close, suggesting he will still feature in the sprint calendar. Trainer Jonathan Portman praised the colt’s effort despite a narrow defeat and hinted at targeting a suitable five‑furlong race at Ascot, where the horse prefers a stiff gallop.