3 minute read
He may be 67 years old and been in the racing game for close to 50 years, but trainer Steven Burridge is always looking for new ways to get wins on the board.
While Street Cry Success has yet to win on the Polytrack, beyond 1400m or above Class 4 level at 31 starts in Singapore, Burridge hopes the now eight-year-old could break all those hoodoos in this Sunday's $70,000 Class 3 race over 1600m on the Polytrack.
The son of Street Cry finished third at odds two starts back on the turf at this level over the mile. Three weeks later, he surprised with an eye-catching second over 1000m on the Polytrack on August 7.
His Australian handler is hoping a combination of those two runs can see a result.
"He's in form at the trip and track - only over two starts!" quipped Burridge from the barrier trials on a rainy Tuesday.
"(Ex-Kranji trainer) Mark Walker hadn't tried him beyond 1400m so when I got the horse this year, we thought to see if he could get over more ground as he gets older.
"He wasn't far off them over the mile back in July and the form from that race (So Hi Class who ran second then won at Kranji Stakes A level at his next start) has held up nicely.
"And while he hadn't placed on the Poly(track) before we got him, he was never far away in those early races for Walker. He also trialled well for us and showed at his last start that he handles the track in good company.
"He's got a lightweight (54 kgs) - that helps – and hopefully he draws a good gate as the 1600m start on the Poly(track) can be tricky.
"(Jockey) Simon (Kok) will ride him again and with Amore Amore likely to set the pace, I would expect we get a nice sit midfield, creep into contention and finish off strongly.
"It would be nice to win one for (owner) Dato Terry Lee (Fairdeal Stable) too as I've known Dato and his daughter (Teresa) for a long time and they are lovely people."
Burridge has known Dato Lee since he rode for the popular owner way back in the late 1980s and has continued training some of his horses over the years, both in Malaysia and Singapore.
Burridge also has Spilt Second nominated in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 2000m on Sunday and is hoping the horse who gave him career win No. 800 as a trainer in Singapore, can add to his 2022 total, which currently sits at nine.
"He needs a wet track," said Burridge of the Bullet Train five-year-old.
"We had a crack in the (Group 1 Singapore) Derby (1800m) two starts ago as he loves the trip. The owners were keen and he was at the right age but he's obviously better suited back in Class 4.
"But for all the rain we get in Singapore, he hasn't copped a yielding track for a while. If he does, he will go very close with (jockey) Harry (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) riding him."
Of his 2022 season, the experienced Burridge is still hungry, but knows his limitations.
"It's been a tough year for the stable," said Burridge who is on a crutch after having a titanium right knee implant put in a few weeks ago.
"The knee has slowed me down but after three reconstructions since the fall (back when he was an 18-year-old jockey in Australia), this new one (knee) should see me out.
"Horse numbers are low but we have some nice types and Mr Malek has a big race in him if things go his way.
"And we probably should have won two races last Sunday (Burridge had four runners finishing in the placings), so hopefully we can finish the year off good."