Burgie heads outstanding success for WRL in ODT Mile
Burgie in action
By Jonny Turner
White Robe Lodge dominated Wingatui’s richest race with Burgie running away from her rivals to win the $100,000 Southern Mile Final on Saturday.
The classy mare exploded out of the pack to win the 1600m feature with her stablemates from the Brian and Shane Anderton barn Mayor Of Norwood (Ghibellines-Gallant Babe-Gallant Guru) and Capo Dell Impero (Ghibellines-Gallant Babe-Gallant Guru) completing a 1-2-4 result for White Robe Lodge and their sire Ghibellines.
Brian Anderton was both thrilled with the efforts of his three horses and his staff and riders who combined to deliver a very satisfying result.
“It was a huge thrill, to have three runners and aim them all at this race and have them run like they did was very satisfying.”
“Burgie has always been a nice mare and she is one that rises to the top for the big occasions.”
“In her last start at Invercargill we thought we had to go back from the draw, it is a hard track to make ground on, but she ran on well.”
“She had been going well but we put blinkers on to get her on the job even more and she didn’t let us down.”
The win of Burgie (Ghibellines-Norah-Gallant Guru) continued an outstanding association between Brian and Lorraine Anderton and BJs Southern Syndicate.
“I have been training for Brian Burgess and his wife and the other boys that are in it for 46 years.”
“They’ve had Norah and Renee and other horses that they have raced with me.”
“Burgie was actually named after Brian Burgess.”
“All of the horses go back to a mare I bought in Christchurch called Josie.”
“It has been a great old breed.”
The Andertons had Burgie right where she needed to be for the ODT Southern Mile Final.
And a perfect Terry Moseley ride got her home.
“I used Terry a bit years ago, I used him and Lance Robinson but then Lance phased out.”
“He is basically the first call man if I need a rider or I think he will suit a horse more than our own jockeys.”
“Full marks to Terry it was a great ride.”
Burgie will be aimed at the Group Three South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Riccarton later this month following her win.
It’s a race White Robe Lodge have enjoyed plenty of success in with mares like Coulee and Include.
“She isn’t far away from stepping up in distance but we will aim her at the Breeders Stakes first.”
Runner-up Mayor Of Norwood was telling his trainers he was ready to step up in trip before running second in the ODT Southern Mile.
But Brian and Shane Anderton resisted the temptation and opted to start the horse in Saturday’s mile and he rewarded them by running an outstanding race.
“He came home really well, it was a great run,” Brian Anderton said.
“We thought about putting in a 2000m race but he had the chance to race for $100,000 on our back doorstep.”
“He ran on really well and we will give him a go over 2000m soon.”
Capo Dell Impero took fourth placing in another stellar effort for White Robe Lodge.
Especially considering he had to carry the top weight of 59kgs.
“He ran a good race, it wasn’t easy for him carrying that weight but he ran on well.”
Adding to an already outstanding day, Ghibellines produced Float (Ghibellines-Deinira-Savabeel) to win over 1600m earlier at Saturday’s meeting.
At Arawa Park on Friday, Ghibellines produced another stylish winner in Gin Gin (Ghibellines-Apparent-Gallant Guru).
The galloper is bred on the same golden cross (Ghibellines over a Gallant Guru mare) that has produced Burgie, Mayor Of Norwood and Capo Dell Impero.