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Leading trainer Steven Burridge continues to prove his
mettle as serious podium material week by week following another good day
at the office on Saturday.
The amiable Australian fired away with Trigger Synergy in the
opening race of the 10-race programme under a battering rain before
doubling up with promising type Alacarte two races later, and settling the
sheet with a treble with As Good As It Gets in the last race.
Incidentally, Burridge wound up Saturday’s meeting
just like he wrapped up the previous day’s proceedings – with a winner.
Happy Everybody saved the best for last for Burridge at Good
Friday’s meeting, and the winning momentum rolled on into Saturday’s
meeting.
Burridge set the tune in the $35,000 Maiden race (1000m) over Polytrack
with Trigger Synergy, who had not found the line in nine runs.
Resuming from an eight-month spell, Trigger Synergy, a
four-year-old by Strategic, opened his account in style as the heavens
opened at Kranji, scoring by three lengths from Fortune Hunter (Barend
Vorster) with Lucky Sorcerer (Vlad Duric) third abother 3 ½ lengths away.
Joao Moreira gets
Trigger Synergy home in heavy rain on Saturday.
“It was his first time on Polytrack and we weren’t sure how
he’d go,” said Burridge.
“I thought the 1000m would be a fraction too shot for him too
but we had Joao Moreira aboard and I told the owner, keep our fingers
crossed, we’d do our best.”
Trigger Synergy is owned by the Funds Stable, the same
connections as those of Burridge’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Trigger
Express in 2008.
“I’m really delighted they’ve got a winner. It’s been a while
since their last win,” he added.
“But still he doesn’t carry much condition and has got such a
weak constitution we couldn’t back him with confidence. He’s as skinny as a
rake!”
Moreira gave credit to Burridge for bringing Trigger Synergy
back to winning form after the long break, and giving the right
instructions.
“The instructions were very good. Steve told me to find a good
position and push him out in the home straight,” said the Brazilian jockey.
“The horse was always travelling well though he was three
wide. He’s a nice little horse – I like him.”
Saimee Jumaat guides Alacarte to victory in Race 3 to bring up the
double for
trainer Steven Burridge.
Burridge has always held a high opinion of the Big Valley-owned Alacarte
and the Umatilla three-year-old who was sent out a warm $15 favourite duly
obliged in the $55,000 Class 4 Division 2 race (1400m).
Enjoying the perfect trail in fourth on the fence from the
jump, Alacarte ran into dead ends at the top of the straight before jockey
Saimee Jumaat ducked him across onto the rails.
Alacarte let down beautifully to score easily by 1 ¼-length
from Pacific General (Duric), with Gutsy Knight (Mark Ewe) third another 1
¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 22.88secs.
“He’s got plenty of ability but is still a big baby in a lot
of ways,” said Burridge. “We’ve got to look after him and make sure he
doesn’t go the other way.
“But he’s done everything right since he’s been with us. I
bought him at the Magic Millions in the Gold Coast because he was a
full-brother to World Airlines.
“He should run a mile on his ears and he also likes a bit of
give in the track. So today’s track was perfect for him.
“He’s got plenty of scope about him. He’s no Better Than Ever
but he should go through his grades and maybe we may consider the mile leg of
the Three-Year-Old Challenge.
“Next year, the Four-Year-Old Challenge would probably suit
him better, but he’s got to overcome his greenness here before making any
grand plans.”
Burridge, who has been on a hot streak since the beginning of
the 2010 season, hopes his hot trot carries on as his team continues to
grow. The recent addition of senior track rider Peter Gilman to his staff
certainly points in that direction.
“I’ve known Peter for more than 20 years, going back to my
riding days in Macau,” said Burridge.
“He was also already helping with the pre-training of some of
my horses up in Queensland.
“He’s agreed to join me here. He now gives me a hand in
trackwork and that sure is an asset to the whole team.”
Burridge's last-race special came courtesy of As Good As It Gets (x Val
Royal), a last-start winner for the Jupiter Stable when then known as
Don'tgiveup.
Ridden by Duric, As Good As It Gets came with a well-timed run to defeat a
very cheeky Ara Kara (Olivier Placais) inside the last 200m.
Burridge (28 wins) now stands clear of Laurie Laxon by seven
wins and if he keeps up the same momentum, he will certainly give the
six-time champion trainer something to chase.
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