3 minute read
Trainer Andrew Bourke is literally a one-man band with two horses in training at Boorowa – a once a year race club with a big country heart.
Andrew Bourke lives right on course – he is the only trainer in town – so interacting with other trainers is primarily restricted to racedays.
The 51-year-old will travel to Gundagai on Sunday with last start winner Howlowcanyougo which will start in the XXXX Gold Benchmark 66 (1400m).
Howlowcanyougo finally broke through for his first win for Bourke at his 14th start with a sneaky inside rails run for apprentice jockey Amy McLucas.
Fledgling apprentice jockey Nicholas Hyde with his 4kg claim takes over on Sunday reducing the galloper's weight to 58.5kg.
"Nick was suppose to ride the horse last start, but Amy was a late replacement and did a perfect job and her ride certainly helped win the race," Bourke said.
"He needs that added weight relief and with 58.5 kilograms it brings him back to the others.
"I hope the win wasn't a once-off because some of his runs have been good, but it took him a while to win a race for me.
"He has had a few problems and I found he wasn't coping with the grain diet I had him on.
"I originally thought after some of his early runs he could be a horse good enough to start in a Gundagai Snake Gully Cup and I was relieved to see him finally win that first race."
Bourke and his partner Sharon Crane race Howlowcanyougo which has tasted success six times and earned over $150,000 prizemoney.
The galloper's break-through victory well overdue, according to his trainer: "It was a huge relief," Bourke said."
"He hurt his joint after one of his early runs and has been a bit of a pain since to get him right. He is a beautiful horse to work with but can be a bit hyperactive other times."
Bourke does the lot with Howlowcanyoucan – trackwork jockey, farrier, transport drivers you name it he does it.
"I only have the two horses and being at Boorowa I have all the use of the track to myself," he said. "My other horse Revolver has won a few races as well.
"I'm always doing something with the horses in one way or another and also drive the transport truck floating other trainers' horses to meetings."
Wangaratta-trained galloper Claptone has won two of his three starts for current trainer Craig Weeding – both coming in New South Wales at Narrandera and Albury. His only failure for Weeding was a last-start fifth at Echuca in Victoria and he is expected to hit back from barrier one.
Bell's Innocent is also close to another win for trainer Laura Mccullum after a last start third at Wagga. His previous starts were unplaced runs at Sandown and Corowa, while he finished second in between those starts in the same grade at Goulburn.
The seven-race program is conducted annually in memory of many long-time contributors to racing for the Gundagai-Adelong Race Club. A large group of Gundagai owners will have to wait until the last race for last-start winner Loose Love to race in the C.E. Readford Memorial Class 1 (1180m).
Loose Love was having his second start this preparation when he won his maiden at Queanbeyan. His trainer Todd Smart and jockey Matthew Cahill have a high winning percentage in recent times and will combine with the lightly raced three-year-old.
