Burns not hesitating on Protostar run

By Andrew Smith

From Ballarat to Biddaddaba – it’s a stark difference in scenery for trainer-driver Damien Burns.

The Victorian horseman and wife Hayley have swapped Snake Valley for the Scenic Rim as they chase glory in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Protostar with exciting youngster, Hesitate.

Bringing a runner to the Sunshine State for the first time, the couple have set up camp at Darrel Graham’s property just west of Mt Tamborine.

It’s a far cry from back home where the mercury is barely reaching double digits, with the Queensland climate benefiting both horse and human ahead of the weekend.

“We left the kids at home and it’s been freezing - it’s been about a top of six degrees and the rain’s coming in sideways and in their faces when they’ve been playing sport,” Burns said.

“We’ve been up here, they have been perfect days - a bit cold of a night but like our perfect spring weather that we get down home.

“The horse has enjoyed it, I can tell he’s got a bit more of a spring in his step since being here, bit warner weather, and I think Hayley and I have too.

“We are very grateful to the Grahams for their hospitality, and as you can see it’s a first-class facility they have got here.”

Burns’ only Constellations runner comes in the form of young colt, Hesitate.

The two-year-old has made a scintillating start to his career, with six starts netting three wins and three seconds, having raced all but once in Victoria.

All three of those seconds have come to fellow Protostar slot holders The Highlight Reel, Forty Love and Sweet On Lexy.

Hesitate’s first hit out at The Creek was Saturday night’s Wayne Wilson Paleface Adios Classic, where he stormed home late to narrowly miss stealing victory from the Bernie Hewitt-trained Sweet On Lexy.

“I was really pleased with how he hit the line - that was the best part about the run was how strong he got to the line,” Burns said.

“If I had have probably been one spot closer, he wins for sure but during the run the speed that he showed me when I asked him impressed me the most.

“He was as good as I’ve ever driven him.”

Burns also owns Hesitate with close mate, Scott Petrie, and bred the colt out of his former racer, Village Tango.

It was that performance at Albion Park that put to bed any question marks the 43-year-old had over Hesitate’s star quality.

Burns, who has five horses in work, admitted to some doubts during the trip to Queensland.

“After Saturday night’s run, I was thinking to myself where we rate with these horses up here - I thought to myself during the week, are we up with them?” Burns said.

“I had a little shake of my head and I thought, well I know driving the horse how good he is and I’m thinking they can’t be that much better than him…because I know how good I think my bloke is.

“I thought I might have pinched it on the line - all but winning, I was absolutely stoked with his effort and his run.

“I think he’s pretty much spot on for Saturday night which is going to be another test.”

A spot in the inaugural running of the $500,000 Protostar almost didn’t eventuate for the Hesitate team.

It was a late call from sponsor Ladbrokes, who own two of the slots in the race, that ensured Burns would make the journey north.

“I sent Scott the details saying you better check out this race and I’m not sure whether he thought I was joking at the time - I think we missed the ballot,” Burns said.

“Then we had to rely on the horse doing his job on the track and I floated it after one of his wins at Melton, there’s a race up here called the Protostar if anyone wants to give us a crack at it.

“He proved enough down home to maybe get a guernsey and we’re lucky enough Ladbrokes got in contact with us and we’re really appreciative of that.

“During organising and getting him up here…it did cross my mind maybe it’s all too hard, and with the Sires just around the corner as well…even though I really wanted to have a crack at this race.”

Burns has driven Hesitate in all six starts but will pass the reins to champion driver Kate Gath for Saturday night’s 1660m trip at The Creek.

“Kate’s had a couple of drives in the trials, and has been great to drive by him,” Burns said.

“Obviously if he didn’t run any good last Saturday night, she might not have come but I think she was pretty impressed with what she saw and can’t wait to get up here.

“She’d probably be about 25 kilos lighter than me so that might help!”

Hesitate will start from the second row in barrier nine, and was rated a $8 chance as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Emma Stewart-trained The Highlight Reel has firmed into favoritism at $2 after selecting the three at Monday’s barrier draw.

My Ultimate Barney and Fate Awaits also sit ahead of Hesitate in the line of betting.

Burns was quietly confident about Hesitate’s chances, expressing his excitement about being involved in Australia’s newest slot race exclusively for two-year-olds.

“The money’s fantastic that we’re running for, and from Victoria - we are pretty much in a bit of a dry spell during the winter, there’s no nice races for two-year-olds,” Burns said.

“So to have something in this time slot for our good races come it was nothing to lose to pop up here in the winter and have a go.

“It’s obviously a great concept for everyone involved, the slot holders and great interest, and I think it’s great for the sport – everyone talks about these slot races and now the drivers and trainers want to be in them.”

Saturday night’s racing will be headlined by the famous Grand Circuit event – the $400,000 Blacks A Fake Championship.

Other highlights include the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Queensland Derby (both worth $150,000 each), as well as the $100,000 Group 1 Queensland Trotters Cup.