Terrific treble for Burridge

Michael Lee
Friday, April 03, 2009

Trainer Steven Burridge continues his good patch of form with a winning treble on Friday.

After Unpickable saluted at debut, the Australian handler was back in the winner’s enclosure three races later when Bionic Boy took out the $65,000 Restricted Maiden-1 (2 & 3 YO) race (1200m) and wrapped up the wonderful evening with a third win with $11 favourite Five Claws in the $35,000 Class 5 race (1200m).

Twice second from his first two runs, Bionic Boy ($12) never gave his adversaries a look-in controlling the race from barrier to box.

Bionic Boy (John Sundradas) opens his account at his third run.

Ridden by John Sundradas for the first time, the Falvelon three-year-old jumped smartly again and took up the running as he did at all his races. Second favourite $17 Shinkansen (Vlad Duric) took the sit on him with Twoeighto (Saifudin Ismail) third on the rails.

Shinkansen gained some ground on Bionic Boy at the top of the straight and for a fleeting moment it looked like the favourite would fold under pressure.

But once John went flat to the boards, Bionic Boy skipped clear to score by a widening margin of 4 ¼ length over Shinkansen, with Glory Knight (Mark Gallagher) running on strongly for third another 1 ¾ lenths away.

“It’s good he finally won. He’s been a bit stiff at his previous races,” said Burridge, referring to his two seconds over 1000m.

“I actually told John to race off the pace tonight, but again he was too keen and John had no choice but to let him go forward.

“We actually wanted him to take a sit at his previous starts, but he always rushes to the lead.

“The funny thing is we’ve taught him how to settle. The other day (wife) Julie (Burridge) rode him in a trial and he settled very well but he seems to overrace all over again in his races.”

Burridge is not sure if he will shape up as Three-Year-Old Challenge material but is certainly keeping that scenario up his sleeve.

“I’ll see how he goes at his next races to have a better idea. But he’s done a good job tonight.”

John was glad he was given the nod for the ride and doubly glad he has delivered the goods.

“He was very fast at the gates. I couldn’t hold him back and I had to let him roll to the lead,” said John.

“But once he got there he settled better. I think it’s a good thing it was a 1200m instead of 1000m.

“He kicked very strongly in the home straight. I think he will learn to settle better in the future.”

Bionic Boy is raced by the Top Champ Stable and was a $35,000 purchase as a two-year-old.

Five Claws (Joao Moreira) scores a narrow win after a close tussle.

Sent out as the punters' elect at $11 in Race 8, Five Claws justified the skinny odds by coming up trumps, albeit following a tough fight down the home straight.

The American-bred Langfuhr four-year-old bounced into contention at the top of the straight after sitting fourth one off the fence. Under strong riding from jockey of the moment Joao Moreira, Five Claws stuck his head out but could not quite draw clear.

Tough Question (Din Azis) and Prior Viscount (Barend Vorster) were still thereabouts but Five Claws did enough to pick up his first win in 11 starts.

"There was so much wrap on him, but he's no superstar. He had to fight hard to win," said Burridge.

"The Brazilian lad rode him very well. He's a very good rider.

"It’s great to get a treble. It's been a good day at the office."

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