Things improve for Burridge

Craig Brennan
Sunday, May 31, 2009

Trainer Stephen Burridge had not been enjoying the best of luck in recent times but it turned around when Men At Work scored in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1200m on Sunday.

But Burridge wasn’t confident of success after the field had travelled the first 200m of the contest.

The well supported Men At Work was trapped three wide on a hot speed before Saimee Jumaat was able to assume control of the race.

Men At Work (Saimee Jumaat) breaks through for his maiden success at his
third race start.

On entering the straight Men At Work was able to open up a three length winning break which enabled the gelding to land the prize by a half length over Dubai Gold (Danny Beasley) with Silver Lining Mohamad Azrull) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

“Things had been going pretty ordinary on late and in the early stages of this race I didn’t think they were going to change,” said Burridge.

“They just made him work a little in the early stages of the race before he was able to cross.

“I thought that having to be used so hard early was going to cause him some trouble and it nearly did as he was getting pretty tired on the line.”

Men At Work came up to Singapore as an unraced three-year-old from Chris Waller’s yard in Sydney after finishing second in a trial at Rosehill.

Burridge said he was hopeful rather than confident that Men At Work would be able to go on to better things.

“I think he’s just average but hopefully he’ll prove me wrong,” said Burridge. “Hopefully he’ll be able to go through his classes but for the meantime I’ll just try and pluck a Novice or a Class 4 with him.”

Men At Work is by the former champion USA turf galloper King Cugat from the Danzero mare She’s Sweet. Sunday’s success took his prizemoney to around the $50,000 for the Jupiter Stable.

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