LONGFORD trainer Mick Burles was in the limelight during the spring carnival with his star galloper The Cleaner and he was back in the spotlight with another code at the Carrick Pacing Club’s cup meeting yesterday.
Burles agreed to participate in a celebrity pony race and sporting The Cleaner’s colours the wily horseman emerged triumphant aboard a little grey pony Burles nicknamed the Grey Flash.
Burles emerged triumphant in a field of 10 that included apprentices Hayley McCarthy, Georgie Catania and Kyle Maskiell along with leading trainer Scott Brunton who almost got tipped out of the cart soon after the start.
“The pony they gave me to drive ran last in the two children’s races they put on before the celebrity race but maybe he was just getting warmed up for me,” Burles said.
“It was a great bit of fun and club is to be congratulated for putting something like this on for the crowd.”
“The crowd was huge and probably at least as big as the mob that went to the Longford Cup on New Year’s Day,” he said.
Another novelty event was the ridden event with leading Tasmanian apprentice Ismail Toker emerging triumphant in a field of five.
Photo courtesy of Greg Mansfield.