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Burridge and Stewart at the double |
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Craig
Brennan |
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Trainer Steven Burridge consolidated his position at the top of the Trainers Premiership with a winning double on Sunday. The double took Burridge to 59 victories for the year and he holds a commanding 14 win lead over six-time champion Laurie Laxon. Burridge opened proceedings with Five Claws in the $35,000 Class 5 Div. 1 Stakes over 1400m and backed it up in the second division with the win of Rising Shadow.
Both winners were ridden by
Ronnie Stewart who has ridden 20 winners for the season, of which nine have
been for Burridge. Burridge and Stewart have
struck up a strong partnership in recent months with the jockey being
rewarded for riding trackwork for the stable. Hes been riding a bit of work
for me and the fact that he can ride light is a big help,
said Burridge. Because Vlad (Duric), Johnny (Powell), Saimee (Jumaat)
and (Joao) Moreira all ride a bit heavier than Ronnie Im
happy to put him on the lighter weighted ones. Ive had a bit of luck with
Ronnie of late and as he turns up most mornings its good to support with
some rides. Rising Shadow has only been
with Burridge for a little over two months and the trainer believes the
gelding can pick up another race or two in Class 5 grade. Hes a Class 5 horse and he
might be able to get away with another one of these races,
said Burridge. He hasnt been with us all that
long and I thought getting back on the turf would suit him today. His first-up run for us was sound after he covered
ground and I thought he would run well today. A six-year-old by Archway from the Dangers
Hour mare Paris Delights, Rising Shadow has now won two of his 29 starts on
top of his five minor placings for the Maple Stars Stable and took his
prizemoney to around $75,000
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