Burbero wins on firm Randwick racetrack

It’s more normal to scratch horses from Randwick meetings because of wet tracks but a firm surface prompted four withdrawals on Saturday.

The track reached a Firm 2 in the new ratings and chief steward Ray Murrihy said he could not recall the last time that happened in Sydney but added the surface was safe.

“It has a good cover of grass. It is firm but certainly not fast,” Murrihy said.

“It’s a long time since we have had one this firm.”

Trainer Bjorn Baker admitted he had a few concerns about running Burbero on a hard surface but it did not worry the in-form gelding who powered home to win the TAB Rewards Mile.

Punters were confident, sending Burbero out the $3.10 favourite with apprentice Brodie Loy continuing his association with the six-year-old.

Loy made his move a little sooner than planned but Burbero sustained his finishing sprint to beat You’ll Never ($4.20) by a head.

Single ($14) led the rest, another 2-3/4 lengths away.

Burbero won at Rosehill on a heavy track in December then recorded two seconds before Saturday’s win.

His 10th win from 31 starts pushed his prize money just shy of $350,000.

“I was a bit concerned about the firm track but I’m not one to scratch horses,” Baker said.

“He got to the front a bit early but he is a fantastic horse.

“He just keeps turning up on race day.

“It is so important for my stable to have a horse like him who is sounder than he has ever been.”

Baker said Burbero’s soundness was due to a change in routine.

“Now that he’s older we’ve been doing a lot of swimming with him,” he said.

“And he does a lot of walking.”

It was the third Randwick win in 2015 for Loy who has developed an affinity for Burbero.

“I didn’t want to get there too early but I couldn’t hold him any slower,” he said.

“He’s such a beautiful horse to ride. Words can’t explain it.”

Baker ended the day on a high when the favourite Coolring ($3.20) brought up a stable double.

“It was a step up in grade from his last win at Canterbury and having Hugh Bowman on makes a difference,” Baker said.

“No-one is riding better than him.”

Article from justhorseracing.com.au

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