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