Continuing On The Highway To Bessy's Record

By Jeff Collerson
Sunburnt Highway's eight lengths winning romp at Wentworth Park on Saturday night was his 27th over the 520m trip and he continues his pursuit of Bessy Boo's record for the number of wins at headquarters.

Bessy Boo retired in December, 2016, after winning 34 Wentworth Park races for trainers Christine and Alan Proctor, a tally which included three victories over the 720m journey.

"Bessy Boo's owner Ashley Wilson received the dog as an engagement present and she gave him that name without realising he was a male dog,'' Alan Proctor recalled.

"He was nothing flash when I first began trialling him but after one of his early races at Richmond, trainer John Finn came up to me and said something like 'you've got a good dog there'.''

Sunburnt Highway's march through the Masters series of races is about to be more competitive as 2019 Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada is soon to become eligible to contest veteran class events.

Judith Richardson, who trains Sunburnt Highway, or Billy as she and husband John always refer to him, said: "We were thrilled to be back at Wentworth Park with him on Saturday night because he loves to run, especially at Wenty.

"The dog looked so happy to be there again because he had been pulling his bedding apart at home through not having had a race for a month.

"When Billy was being walked up the track towards the starting boxes on Saturday night he kept wagging his tail and looking up at John, waiting for him to tell him again that he was a good boy.

"On Sunday morning you would not know Billy had raced just a few hours earlier, he was jumping out of his skin.

"There are no grade one Masters races scheduled for Wentworth Park until May 8 so we will probably enter him for a fifth grade in town, where he will be racing against some dogs who weren't even born when Billy began his career.''

Judith and John Richardson are excited about seven puppies by Moreira from Sunburnt Highway's sister Sunburnt Opal which are currently being educated.

"They are 14 months and one red brindle dog who looks a lot like Moreira, the 2016 Golden Easter Egg winner, is showing special promise,'' Judy said.

Peter Rodgers didn't have a runner in any of Saturday's group finals but the quiet achiever from Freemans Reach had cause to celebrate after landing a double with siblings Simply Houdini and Simply Smudge

Simply Houdini led throughout to win her 520m fifth grade in 30.01 while Simply Smudge prevailed in an identical class thriller in 29.95.

Although their times were similar, Rodgers said: "Simply Smudge is half a second faster than his sister.

"Simply Houdini relished having box one after drawing poorly in box seven in four of her five previous starts.

"Her rails box gave her a soft draw but Simply Smudge had to battle hard to win from box five.

"When he was going head and head with the favourite Dip It In for most of the race I knew he wouldn't give in, he never does.

"Simply Smudge had no luck when third to Redshift Seven in his heat of the Ultra Sense at WP on April 3 and I was disappointed he only qualified as first reserve for that listed final.

"But with Redshift Seven clocking 29.55 to win Saturday night's final maybe we were better off in the fifth grade.

"Simply Smudge though is a special dog who last July finished third to Playlist in the final of the group 1 Vic Peters Classic at only his sixth race start.''