Greatly improved galloper Burbero will be on trial for the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3 when he resumes at Canterbury on Saturday.
Burbero resumes from a spell in The July Sprint at Canterbury. Photo by Steve Hart.
Burbero in one of seven runners lining up in the $85,000 The July Sprint (1100m) and even though trainer Bjorn Baker has high hopes for the rising seven year old further on into the Spring, he thinks he might not be slick enough to mix it with the sprinters first up.
“He was a revelation last time in and if he can continue on with that then we’ll have more fun with him for sure,” Baker told Racenet.
“He often needs a run or two so we’ll just see how he goes on Saturday but he’s going well and he’s definitely fitter than what he’s previously been first-up
“I just think probably the distance and being first-up will be against him.”
Burbero took Baker by surprise last campaign and after working is way up through the classes was able to win in open grade over 1600m at Randwick on January 17 and over 1500m at Rosehill on February 7 before going on to win the Group 2 $175,000 APN Outdoor Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.
Baker then took the punt and ran the O’Reilly gelding in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 21 where he ran a creditable midfield sixth to the Japanese visitor Real Impact.
“He went super in that race,” Baker said.
Burbero is not a noted a first up performer but if he does enough to please Baker, will be progressing towards another start at Group 1 level later in the Spring.
Bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au has also noticed Burbero’s poor first up record and have installed him as a $10 chance in The July Sprint.
The Kris Lees trained Brook Road heads the market order at $2.50 just in front of Burbero’s stablemate Zaratone at $3.20 and Joe Pride’s Kencella at $3.40.
Brook Road was a winner two starts back in a 1100m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Rosehill on June 13 then failed on a heavy track when seventh to Shiraz in a 1100m BenchMark 95 Handicap at Rosehill again on July 4.
Zaratone looks to be the stable pick coming off a second behind Shiraz at Rosehill and will be ridden by Hugh Bowman who is riding in outstanding form chasing another Sydney jockey’s premiership.
With only two Metropolitan meetings left to the end of the 2014 – 2015 racing season, Bowman skipped to the top of the leader board with four winners at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Bowman’s winning quartet took him to ninety-two wins for the season, one and a half wins ahead of both James McDonald and Blake Shinn.
