Burmak storms to Downs Series win
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Connections of Burmak including trainer Shane Burns and jockey Glen Butler happy with the recent Downs Series blitz (3 Way Photos)
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Burmak’s win in the Bell Open Handicap 1400m on November 22 capped off a sensational showing in the 2008 Downs Series and cemented his position as Horse of the Series, delivering the $5000 owner bonus to Geoffrey and Jennifer Makim and Shane Burns in the process.
The seven-year-old gelding’s success also got owner-trainer Shane Burns over the line for the $3000 trainer bonus, while jockey Glen Butler had a clear points advantage to take home the $2000 jockey bonus.
Burns narrowly beat out trainer Craig Smith for the Trainer title with Burns winning on 42 points to Smith’s 41 points.
Burmak’s wins have been an excellent reward for his trainer who had faith to persevere with him despite some large problems in the seven-year-old’s early racing days.
Trainer Shane Burns said, “He’s always had ability. He won his first three races for us and then he got galloped on. We were nearly going to put him down, but we ended up saving him. And he’s ended up coming up through it all right.”
Burns’ perseverance was well worth it now considering the emphatic Downs Series successes for the whole team. He said, “It makes it even better because we bred him ourselves. It’s always better when you can breed them and race them and have a few wins.”
Burmak (G7 Chariot–Wild River) started off the Downs Series in great form with a win at the first raceday in the Goondiwindi Class 3 Handicap 1000m on September 13.
He proved he is an honest horse by following up with wins in both the October and November racedays of the series at the Warwick Class 5 Handicap1200m and the Chinchilla Open Handicap 1400m consecutively both under the instruction of jockey Glen Butler.
The riding skill of apprentice Glen Butler rounded out the successful trio with all three topping the Downs Series points tables’.
Trainer Burns says he will look to keep this combination together in the future. “Glen rode him every race in the Downs Series. I’m very happy with him, and he and the horse get on good which always helps.”
While Burmak raced in only six of the 12 race meets in the Downs Series, his impressive record put him well ahead of the nearest competitor for the Horse of the Series title.
Burns said this strategy was used to rest the horse. He said, “We run him every fortnight because he’s only a real little light horse. He’s only a bit over 400kg. We gave him a fortnight in between and it suited him and his racing with it.”
Of his six starts in the Downs Series, Burmak secured three wins, a second placing in Clifton and two third placings at Dawson and Bell earning him 35 points, which was 19 points clear of nearest competitor Craig Smith-trained Scuderia.
Overall the team were thrilled with the Downs Series. “There’s a good bonus at the end of it and good prizemoney. They’re all good wins I was happy with the lot of them. We were happy all the way,” Burns said.
Owner, trainer and jockey bonus points accrued over the twelve race meetings commencing at Goondiwindi on September 13 and concluding at Bell on November 22 and were allocated in each race as follows: 1st 8 points, 2nd 5 points and 3rd 3 points. All other starters that finished received 1 point.
The most successful horse trainer received $5000, trainer $3000 and the jockey took home $2000.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Phoebe Grealy – November 26
Downs Series Points
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