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North Queensland cane and melon farmer Joe Rapisarda’s long association with trainer Steven O’Dea continues at Ipswich on Wednesday when the stable saddles up lightly raced three-year-old Burdekin Boy.
The 85-year-old Rapisarda was one of the driving forces behind the former Townsville-based O’Dea moving to Brisbane in 2009 to further his training career.
He has been a long time stable supporter ever since, breeding and racing numerous thoroughbreds for trainers around the country including for O'Dea, who is now in partnership with Matthew Hoysted at Eagle Farm.
Rapisarda has bred and owned hundreds of horses since moving to Australia from Italy as a 13-year-old.
Burdekin Boy – a Boris Thornton mount – is one of his latest and lines up for only his second start in a Maiden Plate over 1350 metres in which stable mate Traviata also is an acceptor.
The son of More Than Ready - Burdekin Boy - barrier trialled twice before making his debut where he finished third to Pivotal Lad in a 1200 metre maiden at Eagle Farm on January 26.
"His first run as very good and he's improved a lot off it," co-trainer Hoysted said.
"We think he'll run well again but the worry looks to be Tony Gollan's Torabella, who was very impressive when she won a barrier trial at the Sunshine Coast recently."
Traviata has started three times and is third-up from a break after finishing third to Pink Thunder in a 1200 metre maiden at Eagle Farm last month.
Meanwhile, Hoysted is excited about the upcoming campaign of gun sprinter Uncommon James.
