Unlucky Lewis burns his way to maiden victory

By Jordan Gerrans

Sunshine Coast galloper All About Lewis began to be known as the ‘bridesmaid’ around the Phillip Burns stable as the gelding just could not find a maiden to win.

Before Saturday's trip to Nanango on the non-TAB circuit, the five-year-old son of Whittington had run second on five occasions as well as finishing third twice from 15 attempts.

So, Burns – who is only in the early period of his time as a horse trainer in the Sunshine State – decided to step All About Lewis up to a race against more seasoned horses.

The stable took the somewhat unusual approach of running a maiden horse in a Benchmark 45 Handicap, tackling a crop of horses, some of whom had five race wins to their names

It was just the tonic All About Lewis needed to finally shake the ‘bridesmaid’ tag and in the process hand the trainer the first victory of his training tenure as well.

Burns splits his time between the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay where he runs a building company.

He admits his thoroughbred racing pursuits are just a hobby at this stage but says it is an enjoyable experience.

“I have only been doing it for a couple of years and to have a winner, there are people in racing who have been in it for decades and have not had a winner,” Burns said.

“I have been blessed in that way and lucky to have a couple of horses who have been handy. You get a kick out of a winner like this.”

Apprentice hoop Tamara Noble was able to travel midfield aboard All About Lewis after jumping from the eight alley over 1200 metres on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Noble got going before the home turn on the maiden galloper and they were able to score by more than a length.

It was Noble’s first victory in the saddle since the middle of March.

Burns has been chasing his maiden win as a trainer since January of last year and had more than 30 starters before he finally broke through on Saturday.

The trainer was not even at Nanango Race Club on Saturday to revel in the winning spoils as he had to take another galloper from his barn to Clifford Park for the evening meeting at Toowoomba.

Burns’ son Hayden – who is hands-on with the stable – took All About Lewis to Nanango and was able to savour the win as a part-owner.

Although he was not on hand at Nanango, Burns says it was a deserved victory for the galloper who he believes will take plenty of confidence from the result.

He jokes that seeing as the stable took a long while to win their maiden race, the trainer himself staying away on race day might now be the lucky charm to more positive results.

“He has definitely been due and has been a bit of a bridesmaid over the time,” Burns said.

“He has just been running second and knocked off all the time by a better horse on the day.

“It was good to see him have a win. Lewis is a trier, he puts in 100 per cent, he is no world-beater but he is such an honest horse.

“If they all tried as much as Lewis then we would be more than happy with that. He works hard.

“Hopefully the win gives him some confidence now and he looked like he felt he was the king after the race on Saturday.”

It was not the first time the team had run All About Lewis against the more seasoned horses, heading to Kilcoy and Gympie outside of maiden grade over the last year.

Burns’ other runner on Saturday - Divine Charm – ran unplaced at Toowoomba.

The Burns’ train their small team at their property at the Glasshouse Mountains and head into the Caloundra track once a week for a strong gallop.

As well as the two runners from Saturday, the stable also have veteran mare Gertanie in work.

As a novice in the training ranks, Burns says he leans on trainers such as Liam Birchley, among others, for advice.

Burns’ son Hayden has worked at a number of Sunshine Coast stables and is currently helping out the partnership of Adam and Dallas Simpson.

Burns was previously involved with Clydesdale horses and harness racing before taking out his thoroughbred trainers licence.

He is also dabbling in breeding horses now as well with mare Great Fox.

“It is a hobby, I enjoy the horses,” he said.

“I had a mate that talked me into looking into thoroughbreds and I was not really keen to get into them at the start but before you know it, I am breeding them as well as racing them now.

“I have got into them hard now. You get a kick out of it.”