‘Burna’ wins well at Melton

Talented five-year-old gelding Burnaholeinmypocket gave its Kilpatrick, Sudholz, Schier and Schmidt clan connections another reason to celebrate when he outstayed the opposition to score a well-deserved victory at Melton on Saturday night.

A mid-race move round the field into the spot up outside the leader saw the Kiwi-bred pacer prove too strong in the run to the finish of the $20,000 Minuteman Free For All.

Fingers are firmly crossed that ‘Burna’ has finally overcome his succession of niggling problems and can string together an uninterrupted campaign through spring and summer.

The coming $60,000 Breeders Crown Graduate FFA at Melton on August 25 looks the next likely target for the in-form Andy and Gath stable runner. Burnaholeinmypocket’s career record now stands at 18 wins, 12 minors and a bankroll of $220,411.

Super run

Horsham owned and trained and honorary Birchip mare Bou Chard continued her super run of consistency with a gallant second placing in the $30,000 Vicbred Final at Melton on Saturday night.

Driver Michael Bellman took full advantage of the pole draw right from the start and was able to secure prime spot on the back of the leader, Australia’s boom pacer San Carlo.

Bou Chard switched off during the moderate midrace tempo and was then able to up the ante through the final 800 metres in 27.9 and 26.9 seconds to hold the chasing pack at bay.

She picked up the $4500 consolation cheque for the Carberry-connelly team though beaten some 5.2 metres by San Carlo, which notched up his 17th victory from just 19 starts.

Bou Chard’s four-year-old campaign has to date yielded six wins and seven minor placing’s from 14 outings and it would be great to see her land another before the end of the current season.

Retired Steed

Great Western-trained gelding The Noble Steed bowed out of racing after his 100th career outing at Melton on Saturday night.

The rising seven-year-old bay came from three back the pegs at the bell, to finish in third place two metres from the Lance Justice-trained quinella in a rate of 1:54.4 for the 1720-metre dash. The Noble Steed was bred by its trainer Kerryn Manning, who also drove the pacer in 85 of its 100 starts.

Owners Peter Bigmore and the Dreamers Group have had plenty of fun over the time with their horse, which posted 17 wins, 27 minors and stakes of $137,000.