Burbero Scores Narrow Win In Ajax Stakes

Burbero worked home strongly on the rail to score a narrow win over Ninth Legion in the 2015 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Burbero got his nose in front of a gallant Ninth Legion to win the 2015 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Burbero got his nose in front of a gallant Ninth Legion to win the 2015 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

There were seven different winning chances at the 200 metre mark with the majority of the field spread right across the track, but rising jockey Brodie Loy produced the ride of a much more experienced jockey to bide his time on the rail before giving Burbero the last crack at his rivals.

Ninth Legion looked as though he was going to hold on for a brave victory, but Burbero got his nose down at the right time to score his maiden win at Group level.

Burbero finished a close second behind Faust in the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) and his Ajax Stakes victory over 1500 metres capped off an outstanding training performance from Bjorn Baker, but the rising trainer was quick to pay credit to the ride of Loy and the training facilities at his disposal at Warwick Farm.

“It was a fantastic ride, he rode him absolutely perfectly,”

“One of the good things about Warwick Farm is that we have so many facilities and he has done a lot of swimming and he has gone around the river track, which is just like the country.

“I wouldn’t have thought that we would end up here and he has done a remarkable job this time in.

“We have figured out the right way to ride and Brodie has ridden him really well.

“Brodie is an apprentice to David Pfeiffer, but we see him every morning and he does a lot of work on some of our horses.

“You have to reward young guys and this is a big break for him.”

The Ajax Stakes victory was Loy’s first win at Group level and the young hoop was clearly thrilled when he crossed the line in the Group 2 event.

Loy has ridden Burbero in the majority of his race starts this preparation and he was brimming with praise for the O’Reilly gelding that has done plenty for his riding career.

“It is unreal,” Loy said.

“He is an exceptional horse, he has a great turn-of-foot and when he is in a dogfight he will tough it out.

“His biggest problem is hitting the front  a bit too early and that is probably what he did last start.

“I had a beautiful run into the race, I knew I would get a good cart to the line and he toughed it out.”

Villiers Stakes winner Rudy was well-backed in the lead-up to the Ajax Stakes, but he was caught four wide throughout and justifiably tired in the final stages.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.