Talented galloper Burrandana’s penchant for giving away a start is a source of frustration for his trainer Peter J Morgan but as he chases a breakthrough win at Rosehill on Saturday he’s not prepared to change anything – for now.
But change could be coming for the lightly raced five-year-old and the result of the TAB Highway (1800m) is likely to shape more than just his plans for the season.
“Next time around, which is probably not far away, when he comes back we might shake him up and see if we can ride him closer,’’ Morgan said.
“I think the further the races go the closer he’ll be, we hope so anyway.
“We’re trying to work out which way to go, do we go further or keep him fresh and have another go at the Country Championships.
“I wanted to try him at the distance to have a look at him and see if he’ll get it. I think he will run it on his ear.”
At just his fifth start, Burrandana ran third in the Southern District Country Championships (1400m) behind Bianco Vilano and then finished fifth in the Southern Wild Card.
The Wagga trainer has only had seven Highway starters and Burrandana has been three of them.
He’s been runner-up in his past two, at 1400m and 1500m, and he worked through the field to loom as the winner at Rosehill two weeks ago until he was ambushed by Eaglemont.
For a few seconds Morgan thought he had his first Highway win in the bag.
“When I went back and watched the replay the other horse was jammed up and had to push its way out so it’s a bit different on second look but we were there for a while,’’ he said.
“It can be a nuisance getting back there but his form has been very good all the way through.”
Morgan, who only trains three horses these days, is wary that Burrandana is expected to win the Highway. He was $1.95 favourite with TAB on Thursday.
“I hope they’re right,’’ he said.
There have been 14 odds-on favourites contest a Highway in the 350 editions so far and eight have been successful, the latest being Mogo Magic early last month.
The Wagga trainer bred Burrandana, and also trained his mother, and he said the gelding still has plenty of upside given he’s only had nine starts as an early five-year-old.
“I thought he’d have come up a bit earlier but we had a couple of hiccups along the way,’’ he said.
“I don’t think he’s worked out what he is yet, he’s a slow learner. He’s coped with it all very well, he handles things so easily.”
– Racing NSW
