Stable star’s back on track
GEELONG trainer Michael Roebuck is confident stable star Bel Burgess will return a better horse after having surgery to remove chips from both fetlocks.
The five-year-old, who won in the city twice and placed at Caulfield last preparation, will have just one trial before heading to the $50,000 Weary Dunlop at Benalla on September 29.
Roebuck described Bel Bur- gess as the best horse he has ever trained, but he was not going to get ahead of himself when placing him in races.
“We found out he had chips in his joints, so if he comes back sounder then that’s when you keep progressing,” Roebuck said.
“We took X-rays after his Caulfield run, where he ran second to Burning Front, just as a precaution, but we were a bit surprised to see he had them in both. He laid in a fair bit in his races so we are assuming that’s why.
“In a lot of races he probably wasn’t going at his top, only doing what he had to. If we can get him pain free and wanting to run up to his absolute best then I’m sure there is improvement to be made.
“Ballarat Vet Clinic were happy with the surgery and are confident he will make a good return.”
Roebuck recently moved into Niall Phillips’ old stables on course, shifting from Breakwater’s Haworth Court training complex.
The rising trainer said his new stables would be perfect for his small yet talented team.
“It’s going to be a lot easier and they are better stables,” Roebuck said. “With the sale of Haworth Court I was on the lookout for stables.
“My numbers aren’t too bad. I’ve got 10 in work and I’ll be around the 10 to 15 (horses eventually).
“I’ve got a lot of young ones coming through.”
Roebuck has been able to expand his ownership in the past 12 months, enjoying an impressive 2016-17 season.
He finished with nine winners from 64 runners, while Bel Burgess’s exploits guided him to a 25 per cent winning strike rate in the city.