by Duane Ranger
He’s still a “meat head” but the aptly named Angus Burga is starting to impress his trainer, Ken Sefonte – so much so he even gave him a rare compliment following the gelding’s second career win at Alexandra Park on Friday.
Never one to get too carried away, Sefonte believes Angus Burga will become an even better race-horse once he gets his head around the game.
“He’s improving with each start. He’s developing into a nice trotter, but he won’t ever be as good as his mother (Our Sunny Whiz). I always thought that when she was young she would one day make Australasia’s best trotting mare – and she did.
“He’s a good horse, and I don’t think he will ever be that good. I don’t like labeling horses especially when they’ve won just two races, but this fella does have what it takes to go further,” Kumeu-based Sefonte said.
Angus Burga and Peter Ferguson had a length to spare when winning Friday’s McMillan Equine Feeds Handicap for the R52 to R61 trotters. They could have won by more.
The son of Angus Hall stopped the clock in 2:54.4 (mile rate 2:07.5) and came home in 59.5 and 29.7.
His only other victory came on the same track and over the same distance after a three-and-a-half month spell on July 21. The bay won that night in 2:57.2 (mile rate for the 2200m stand: 2:09.6). He came home in 59.8 and 29.5.
Angus Burga hinted good times were ahead when he won by seven lengths at the Pukekohe Workouts on July 1.
“He’s only had 12 starts because I’ve had to bring him in and out of work every couple of months. He’s been a real nut-case at times. Real hard to train, but now he’s starting to finally click what racing is all about.
“I was delighted when he stepped away smoothly. When Peter took him around to the lead I knew nothing would get past him. He loves it out in front. Peter said he never had to pull the plugs. In fact he also told me he had a couple of gears up his sleeve – both times he won.
That’s encouraging,” Sefonte said.
“He’s six now and he has a good body, but it has taken a long time to get him to where he is and he’s still got some way to go if he’s going to foot it with some good ones one day,” he added.
Sefonte said he would start him again at ‘The Park’ on Friday week.
Sefonte has six horses in work. Angus Burga provided him with his only victory last season and now he’s right on target to beat his season best of eight wins he recorded in 1987-1988.
Angus Burga is owned by Sheryl Lean and Robert Morton Southey.
The breeders are Lean (Waimauku), Robert Armour Southey (Waimauku), Keith Southey (Waimauku), and Robert Morton Southey (Snells Beach).
Angus Burga is the second of five foals, and first colt, out of the 2008 Rowe Cup winner, Our Sunny Whizz.
The now 15-year-old Sundon – Hanover Whiz mare won 19 of her 45 starts ($348,781) for trainer, Sefonte.
Her only other major victory came in the Group Three City of Sails Free-For-All, also in 2008, but she did place in several others including a second behind One Over Kenny in the 2007 Rowe Cup.
Meanwhile two sets of trainers, and one driver, won two races each on Friday
The Steve Telfer trained Parker (David Butcher) justified his $1.70 favouritism in the first race, and then seven races later Telfer trained Dance Time to win at cramped $1.40 odds.
Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson also nailed a double when $4 loose favourite Three Kisses [Andre Drake (j)] won race six and $2 hotpot Pakipaki (Philip Butcher) got up in the last race.
Thirty-one-year-old Ardmore trainer Gareth Hughes notched up his first official career win with his father Brian (Bunty), when $4.20 second favourite Marcy Runkle flew down the outer to win race four.
The best driver on Friday was the North Island’s leader reinsman of last season – David Butcher.
Butcher, who also won last season’s premiership at Alexandra Park, saluted the judge with Parker in the first race and Dance Time in the eighth event.
Waiuku trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett quinella-ed the R61 to R102 feature trot with Majestic Ali (Maurice McKendry – MNZM) and Commander Paris (Todd Mitchell).
Ironically both trotters are two of the best Monte saddle exponents in the north as well.
Parker (1:58.8), Three Kisses (1:58.7) and Dance Time (1:59.1) were the only pacers to record sub-two minute mile rate victories.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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