Damien Burns reckons he has got ‘something special’ ahead of July’s $500,000 Protostar for two-year-olds in Queensland.
Australia’s richest two-year-old harness race is set to have its second running at Albion Park and will to coincide with the Inter Dominion carnival.
“His name is Maxo Mighty and I have got him ready to race on the 5th of February at Maryborough, if the race stands up,” Burns said.
“He is definitely a horse that I have got one eye on the Protostar.
“No-one can stop us dreaming, but that’s the plan moving forward.”
The colt out of Princess Dillinger has trialed on two occasion and managed to grab the attention of form guru, Craig Rail.
“Maxo Mighty is the first new season juvenile to step out at the trials and for a horse still listed as being a yearling, he put in a tremendous performance,” Rail said.
“He led throughout and drew clear at the end, recording a last quarter of 27.4 seconds!
“He is by Warrawee Needy out of the strong mare Princess Dilinger (1.58.2, $65,263).”
The 44-year-old took promising colt Hesitate to Qld for last year’s edition and finished sixth with Kate Gath taking the reins. “I would like to think I have got unfinished business there,” Burns said. “Last year I think we had the horse to win it, if he had a better draw.
“I don’t see why this horse can’t go in the same direction as Hesitate.”
The Haddon horseman admits that Hesitate and Maxo Mighty are worlds apart. “They are very different horses and if this Maxo Mighty goes as good as he looks, he could be something special,” he said. “I don’t know how good is he yet, because I haven’t actually let him go yet. “I am trying to get a bit of lookers on him for the Protostar.”
Ladbrokes took Hesitate to fill their slot last year with Burns already trying to drum up support for his next big thing.
“While I was there last year, I did actually mention to the Ladbrokes crew that I have actually got another one for next year and I wasn’t just saying that,” he said.
“I have a good feeling about him.”