Burridge strikes with early treble

Craig Brennan
Friday, February 05, 2010

Trainer Steven Burridge was in white hot form on Friday night taking out the opening three races.

He kicked off the night by providing the quinella in the $35,000 Class 5 Div. 2 Stakes over 1400m before taking out the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1400m with favoured runner Benji’s Pride.

Burridge made it the treble - and a double for jockey Vlad Duric - when Lim’s Connection took out the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1400m.

An expensive yearling, Benji’s Pride, ridden by Duric, made up for two previous luckless performances in scoring by three-quarters-of-a-length over Thanksgiving (Barend Vorster) with Sweet Dream (Oscar Chavez) a half-length away third

Benji’s Pride, a three-year-old by More Than Ready from the Danehill mare Elle Duccio, is a brother to three time Singapore winner Monkey Man and was an A$700,000 yearling purchase.

“He was purchased by Darley in Australia as a yearling and after one trial they decided to move him on,” said Burridge.

Vlad Duric guides Benji's Pride to victory in Race 2 on Friday night.

“We were able to get him a lot cheaper than what they paid for him and he might have a nice future here.

Benji’s Pride is owned by first time owners Benjamin Racing and was sold to the connections by Burridge’s son Wade.

“Wade’s found two or three for them now,” said Burridge. “Another one, Benji’s Glory, has run a couple of placings and they have an unraced two-year-old coming along nicely.

“Hopefully this has whetted their appetite to get a few more.”

Burridge said luck hadn’t gone the way of Benji’s Pride at his previous two outings and was thankful to secure a win for the new connections.

“The horse hasn’t had a lot of luck at his only two starts and I thought tonight he was going to get run out by the second horse.

“But he knuckled down well and did a pretty good job in the end.”

Duric gave Benji’s Pride the run of the race in fourth spot behind the pace set by Mr Prosperity Kat (Mohd Zaki) and Thanksgiving before edging out into the clear on straightening.

“I just told Vlad to give him plenty of galloping room,” said Burridge. “I think with clear running earlier last week he possibly should have won.”

Duric believes Benji’s Pride could have a bright future in Singapore as he is still learning what racing is all about.

“He’ll keep improving as he’s still a bit new,” said Duric. “With time he could develop into a nice mile (1600m) or mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) horse.

“He really knuckled down well and was still a bit green. When he learns what racing is all about he should develop into a nice horse.”

Burridge’s first winner came courtesy of Flash Gordon who broke his maiden status at his 15^th race start.

Ridden by Erasmus Aslam, Flash Gordon scored a two length win over stablemate Pink Cheetah (Vlad Duric) with Our Brightia (Ronnie Stewart) a length away third.

Burridge said Flash Gordon had taken time to mature and had appreciated the step up in distance.

Flash Gordon, a four-year-old by Catbird from the Generous mare Kayzarana, is a full-brother to the third leg of Burridge’s treble Lim’s Connection and he’s hopeful of the gelding finding the winner’s stall again in the not too distant future.

Lim's Connection gives the Burridge and Duric combination another win.

Flash Gordon was an A$100,000 yearling purchase and has now won around $35,000 in prizemoney for the Oriole Stable.

Lim’s Connection made easy work of his Class 4 company in scoring by a length over Good Good Luck (Oscar Chavez) with Coppa Del Mondo (Ronnie Stewart) a head away third.

“He’s always been a consistent horse but can be his own worst enemy in a race,” said Burridge. “He runs about in his races which costs him in the long run.

“Last time he probably got to the front a bit too soon with his big weight, but realistically he’s a Class 4 horse and just finds Class 3 grade a bit tough.”

Burridge said it was especially satisfying to win another race for Lim’s Stable.

In winning, Lim’s Connection took his prizemoney past the $300,000 mark for Lim’s Stable which has seen him win six of his 41 starts with a further eight placings.

Drovetti makes it four for Burridge

Craig Brennan
Friday, February 05, 2010

The winning form of trainer Steven Burridge and jockey Vlad Duric continued on Friday night when the pair combined to take out the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1600m.

Burridge made it a winning quartet for the night after taking the opening three races while Duric chimed in with a winning treble.

After being held-up in the run, Drovetti drove late to get up and score by a head over Fantastic Owners (Mark Gallagher) with Breadwinner (Ronnie Stewart) a nose away third.

Drovetti (outside) gets up to beat Fantastic Owners (inside) and Breadwinner
(centre) in Race 6 on Friday night.

It is the second time that Burridge has completed the feat of training four winners on a program having done so last year when wife Julie was on a riding trek in Mongolia.

“I’ve got to thank all the staff for their dedication and help,” said Burridge. “They are the unsung hero’s behind this success.”

The quartet of winners pushed Burridge to the top of the Trainer’s Premiership with nine winners for the season, while Duric also sits atop the Jockey’s Premiership log following his treble with 11 victories.

Burridge held concerns as to whether Drovetti would be able to pick up his rivals after an interrupted passage until the final 150m, but under hard riding from Duric he was able to get up in the final few strides.

The trainer said Drovetti had come back from a disappointing run in the Singapore Derby last July in excellent shape.

“He had a case of the thumps after the Derby but we gave him a good break and he has come back in great shape,” said Burridge.

“The way he is racing now he will have no trouble getting 1800m or 2000m but where I go with him now, I’m not too sure.

“I just wanted to see him come back and start winning a few races. He’s done that now and maybe now is the time to start setting our sights a little higher.”

Duric was full of praise for how Drovetti knuckled down to his task once he got him into the clear.

“He’s very genuine,” said Duric of Drovetti. “I certainly had my worries in the run.

“I wanted to be up outside the leader but Ronnie (on Breadwinner) beat me to it and I was worried about being dictated to in the run.

“We got a pretty good run through the race, but when Breadwinner kicked with his lightweight I didn’t think we would get there.

“But this bloke has got a big heart and put his head right out. He’s just so genuine and a pleasure to ride.”

It was Drovetti’s sixth win from his 16 starts in Singapore and the five-year-old son of Mossman from the Pauillac mare Clareta has now won more than $350,000 in prizemoney for the Ninetyfive Emperor Stable.

High five for Burridge

Craig Brennan
Friday, February 05, 2010

Trainer Steven Burridge achieved a career best when he won five of the nine races on Friday night.

Burridge started the night by winning the first three races on the program - the $35,000 Class 5 Div. 2 Stakes over 1400m with Flash Gordon, the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1400m with favoured runner Benji’s Pride and then the the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1400m with Lim’s Connection.

Drovetti bought up the quartet when successful in the main race on the night, the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1600m before Bionic Boy made it a fabulous five in winning the final event, the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1200m.

Bionic Boy rings up win number five for Steven Burridge on Friday night.

Bionic Boy (K K Ng) scored by two-and-and-a-half lengths over I Tawt I Taw (Danny Beasley) with Farrand (Joao Moreira) a length-and-three-quarters away third.

Burridge had only once previously trained four winners and was over the moon with his success on Friday night.

“I owe a lot to my staff,” said Burridge. “They are all terrific workers and without their help I would be here tonight.

“Everything fell into place and luck was on my side tonight.”

Burridge said Bionic Boy was a classy performer who appreciated the little bit of cut in the ground.

“They went 1 min 09 secs last time which was just a bit quick for him last time,” said Burridge. “He’s run 1 min 10 secs tonight which is more his go.

“He does have a lot of ability the horse and hopefully he’ll keep going forward.”

Bionic Boy is a four-year-old by Falvelon from the Sri Pekan mare Pekan Lady and took his prizemoney to around the $200,000 mark for the Top Champ Stable with his success on Friday night.