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Trainer Steven Burridge could not have asked for a better start to his first overseas adventure with a win and a fourth placing in Dubai on Thursday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Dark Matter took out the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial over 1400m on the all-weather track while Apache Crown finished fourth in a 1200m handicap over the straight course on turf.
Both gallopers were ridden by Ted Durcan.
Burridge, who has a team of four horses in Dubai for the carnival leading up to World Cup night on March 31, was naturally delighted with the achievement.
“This is a great thrill, not just for me but for the whole team,” said Burridge from Dubai on Friday morning.
“It's great for KC (Dr Tan Kai Chah), Mick Lockett and the whole team back in Singapore.
“Naturally there is a lot of pressure to perform when you head overseas and even more so first-up.
“This is my first time away to such a big carnival and we have had a bit of luck, so to come away with a win and a fourth on our first night out is very satisfying.”
Burridge said Dark Matter had enjoyed the run of the race, sitting in second position on the fence before getting up inside of the leader on the hometurn.
He said Dark Matter looked to be struggling before gaining his second wind and then going on to post a half-length victory over Kinglet, ridden by Mickeal Barzalona.
“The beauty with Dark Matter is that he makes his own luck in his races,” said Burridge. “He's done a good job to win the race and hopefully there is improvement still to come from him.”
Burridge said Dark Matter's immediate aim was the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas over 1600m on February 9 but he was unsure at this stage whether the three-year-old would require another start before that race.
The run of Apache Crown in finishing fourth in his race was also a good pointer to possible success further down the track.
“It was his first run on a straight course and he got a bit lost,” said Burridge. “He ran on really well in the final stages and will take improvement from the run.”
Burridge, who will stay on in Dubai for the next week, said his other two gallopers in Dubai – Captain Obvious and Ip Man – were likely to run next week either on Friday January 20 or Saturday January 21.