Trainer Darrell Burnett had a busy but rewarding week, culminating in Astunner’s impressive win at Cootamundra, just days after the gelding was forced to trial following a barrier mishap.
Darell shares a Harden connection with his wife, Brittany Burnett (nee Heywood), hailing from God’s Country. The victory, under a hefty 64kg handicap, marked the six-year-old’s sixth career win and second start for the Burnett stable.
“We thought he was going well, but he played up at Wagga two weeks ago and sort of flipped himself over in the barriers,” Burnett explained.
“Since then, we jumped him out to make sure his manners were good, and then he had to undergo a trial on Monday, which he passed, so it’s been a bit of a busy week.”
Despite the quick turn-around—the trial was only six days prior—Astunner clearly thrived, leading Burnett to praise both the horse’s resilience and the jockey’s ride.
“He came through his trial well, obviously. Began well,” Burnett said. “He [the jockey] gave him a good ride, just not letting that one cross him and keeping his momentum up, which I think is always important as well.”
The victory, which saw Astunner carry 6kg more than his previous win, has opened up some promising options for the stable. Burnett is now eyeing feature races for the gelding if he performs well in his next outing, likely a 1300m benchmark 74 at Wagga in two weeks.
Stable Ticking Over: New Talent and Family Support
Burnett currently has a manageable team of 20 to 25 horses in work, a number he notes is “enough in the country.”
The stable is also home to Divine Conclusion, a horse Burnett is particularly excited about, who is set to return to racing in the next four weeks after securing two wins from his last three starts.
However, a key part of Burnett’s operation involves a successful trading model. He buys horses as yearlings, breaks them in, develops and educates them, and then puts them on the market.
“I buy them as yearlings, break them in, breed them up and then sell them,” he detailed, noting he recently achieved a strong return on a couple of sales. This model is a necessity in the country where horses with a high purchase price—Burnett has paid between $40,000 and $160,000 for some of his Breeze Up prospects—are often difficult to keep long-term.
“In the country, you can’t afford to have a horse worth that much,” he admitted. Off the track, Burnett’s family is a key support system. His wife juggles part-time teaching and motherhood, assisting with the stable while caring for their daughter, who turns two next month.
Despite the challenges of the racing world, Burnett’s passion remains evident. “It’s a difficult game, but a fun game. I love it,” he concluded.
– Tully Potts
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