David Burnett's Warm Cockles with recent kennel decision

By Jordan Gerrans

Group 1 dog man David Burnett arrives at the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival of 2024 with a renewed focus in his life.

The top Victorian trainer has plundered Group-level fortunes over the years in the Sunshine State with star dogs such as Kiss Me Ketut and champion Simon Told Helen while also campaigning with home bred sprinter Boo Boo Billy in recent times.

Burnett’s Warm Cockles looks a promising type and will be his team flag bearer starting in Thursday’s Young Guns Final.

In previous years Burnett had operated with a kennel of around 15 at Little River but as grandchildren have entered his life in recent times, he has scaled his dogs down to just four.

He considered stepping away from the training ranks and into retirement earlier this year but a smart trial from Warm Cockles kept his fire burning.

Burnett notes that he cannot be moving around the state – and country at times – on a consistent basis with dogs when he has family priorities at home.

“Hopefully I can potter along with a couple of nice ones,” Burnett said.

“The grand kids love the dogs and come to the farm and help out. They show signs of being involved in the dogs in the future.”

The Albion Park track has been a happy hunting ground for the respected conditioner over the years, winning the Group 1 Brisbane Cup in 2013 with Kiss Me Ketut, while Boo Boo Billy made a Gold Bullion Final and Simon Told Helen walked away with a Queensland Derby in 2019 and qualified for the 2020 Brisbane Cup decider.

Snags Mckenzie and Onions O'Reilly have also ventured north under the Burnett banner in recent times. 

As he has scaled back his kennel, Burnett is hopeful Warm Cockles can go on with it and race at a high level throughout his career.

Following Thursday’s $45,000 Brisbane Young Guns Final at Albion Park, the black son of Fernando Bale is likely to head towards the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic.

There could be more carnival events down the line for the lightly raced youngster, as well.

“There is some very competitive and high-class dogs going around at the moment in Brisbane,” the veteran dog man said.

“It is very difficult to come up and take them on at their home track. It is a challenge.

“It has always been a part of my plans to come up and compete in carnivals if I can.”

Burnett considered going to Western Australia to campaign Warm Cockles but instead opted for the northern sojourn instead.

With only eight official race starts on his resume before last Thursday’s heat, Warm Cockles could not have been more impressive in winning in a time of 29.86 seconds.

He started from the one in the heat, an alley he had not commenced from before in his career.

Burnett, who owns and trains the up-and-coming dog, opted not to trial Warm Cockles at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club before last week's heat.

“He is only a young dog and is still doing a few things wrong, he has only had the nine starts,” he said.

“To do what he did last week – jump on a plane and come up to race without having a look at the track – he acquitted himself real well.

“I know he has early speed most times so we went with that thinking instead of having a trial beforehand.

“He certainly has ability and he has shown enough down here in Victoria to warrant the effort of coming up to Queensland.”

Warm Cockles will jump from the other end of the machine on Thursday night in the Final.

Despite being handed the pink, the interstate visitor is a $4.80 chance as of Wednesday morning with August Bob – who champion dog man Tony Brett is looking after for the time being – is the early public elect at $2.60 with the bookmakers.

“He has had seven twice in Melbourne and handled it ok, winning from there,” the visiting trainer said of Warm Cockles' draw.

“He seemed to want to just get off the track a little bit last week as he had never had the one before.

“He seemed to drift - we think it had more to do that he wanted to chase the lure as it sits out from the rail compared to our Melbourne one. Box eight seems to be as good as any other draw, we are happy with that.”

The Flying Amy Classic series for dogs under 30 months of ages commences later this month.