OWNER-BREEDER Dr. John Burke enjoyed a lot of success with his former star race mare Kats Clause and now he looks set to revel in similar glory with her first two foals that scored impressive wins at Tapeta Park Spreyton today.
Mister John (David Pires) stepped out for the first time in a two-year-old maiden over 1000 metres and after racing just off the pace set by Little River Girl, the colt by Strada delivered the knockout blow to his rivals over the concluding stages to score by over a length from other first-starters Little River Girl and Terra Amata that hit the line in sync.
If Mister John’s win wasn’t enough to put a smile on the owner’s face it was en even wider smile after race two in which Mister John’s three-year-old half-sister Miss Elizabeth (x Lucky Owners) that scored an emphatic win in a 3YO and upwards maiden plate over 900 metres.
Both horses are prepared at Brighton by Royston Car who also trained the dam.
Carr said Mister John showed above average ability from day one but he admitted he was a bit hesitant about traveling the colt to Devonport without a trial under his belt.
“With all the controversy from southern trainers about racing too much at Devonport I was in two minds about sending my two to the track but after a phone call from Dr Burke who said he’d had a god look at the Tapeta rack and recommended I send his horses to racer there and here we are with two wins,” Car said.
“I am sure Mister John and Miss Elizabeth are capable of winning races and I am looking at taking Miter John to Melbourne for a race in the coming weeks if he comes tough this race in good shape,” he said.
Jockey David Pires said Mister John has a bright future.
“This colt could be very special because it takes a very good horse to travel so far from home for his first race and deliver the type of performance he did at his first start and without having had a trial,” Pires said.
Miss Elizabeth was having her first start since November but raced as if she was at the top of her game.
Miss Elizabeth had four starts last reparation with her third effort second behind Atie’s Spur her best last time in work.
Listen to what owner-breeder Dr. John Burke had to say about Mister John’s debut win – click here .