3 minute read
Reigning Two-Year-Old Horse Of The Year Super Smink is the $1.90 favourite for Tuesday’s Tabtouch-Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m), but trainer Dan Morton is taking nothing for granted.
A sticky draw from barrier one, mindful it's not Super Smink's grand final as well as the record of favourites in the Burgess Queen Stakes is giving Morton a few minor concerns.
Glamour mare Amelia's Jewel got rolled as red-hot favourite in last year's Burgess Queen Stakes, suffering the first loss of her career when second to Laced Up Heels.
Since 2000, six favourites have won the Burgess Queen Stakes, the previous being Lady Cosmology (2019) who defeated Flirtini to give trainer Simon Miller a one-two result.
Super Smink goes into the Burgess Queen Stakes in the same rich vein of form that she presented as a juvenile after charging home to win the Belgravia Stakes (1200m).
Utilising her greatest weapon, a sharp turn of foot, Super Smink got out of trouble after getting a long way back towards the rear of the field.
Last season Super Smink became the first two-year-old to win the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m), Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and WA Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
Morton, chasing his third Burgess Queen Stakes victory, admits Super Smink could be exposed if she doesn't get the luck required from her inside draw.
"History tells you doesn't it after Amelia's Jewel got beaten last year," Morton told The Races WA.
"And drawn in barrier one if you don't get clear air when you need it she could be vulnerable.
"But it's the quickest way around, I've already had a chat to Chris (Parnham), but it's still not her grand final.
"I would be guarded at the price, but if Chris gets her out she should be hard to beat."
Morton, who won the Burgess Queen Stakes with Snickerdoodledandy (2021) and Buzzoom (2022), said Super Smink had improved since the Belgravia Stakes.
"She's really good and I'm happy with her," Morton said.
"She's come on a little bit fitness wise as you can imagine.
"She's a happy horse."
Morton is wary of favourites winning the Burgess Queen Stakes, but there is no such concern over Parnham's effort in the race.
The gun rider has made the race his own in recent times after guiding home Laced Up Heels (2022), Buzzoom (2021) and Snickerdoodledandy (2020).
