Trainers 'ecstatic' after Burnt Briar takes TAB Anniversary Cup

By Alex Nolan

Trainers Cliff Houston and Helen Sant remain on cloud nine after Burnt Briar rubber-stamped his remarkable comeback to racing in Sunday’s fifth TAB Anniversary Cup at Capalaba.

The black dog was lining up for just his seventh start this year after resuming from a nine-month injury lay-off in September with a blistering 19.52 second effort after overcoming a serious muscle tear.

Despite an eye-catching second in last week’s heat behind Champagne Jazzy, Burnt Briar was sent out $11 with TAB fixed odds from box seven in the Final.

More fancied litter sister Tira Mira ($3.20) looked to have the race wrapped up inside the final 100 metres, before Burnt Briar started to close late alongside $3.80 chance Fernando Grand.

But, Burnt Briar stuck his nose out where it counted to beat Fernando Grand by 0.25 lengths, with Tira Mira close-up in third.

Burpengary-based Houston and Sant have a long association with Capalaba, which on Sunday marked five years since the inaugural TAB and Sky Racing meeting at the bay side track.  

“We were absolutely ecstatic,” Sant told Racing Queensland.

“The first thing Cliff said was how glad he was that Burnt Briar won because of what he’s been through.

“When he came back and ran that fast time it was not what we’d expected. We thought 19.80 seconds would be nice and that if he could keep running that, it would be good.

“He has been consistent without a lot of luck between then and now but has kept finding the line at the end of his races.”

In a story with Racing Queensland shortly after Burnt Briar’s comeback, Sant detailed the lengthy rehabilitation process the dog had undergone to return to racing after he sustained a “complete tear of his biceps brachii from the ulna and partially from the radius.”

A team of doctors from the Australian Greyhound Working and Sporting Dog Veterinarian Group played a leading role in helping the dog overcome his injuries, including surgeon Lucas Beierer.

“I sent the video to Lucas and he will be thrilled,” Sant said.

“To come back from that injury and do what he’s done has been amazing.

“And, to win the Anniversary Cup makes it even more special because at the time of Capalaba’s first TAB meeting Cliff was the lure driver and I was doing some judging.”

Houston and Sant are in line to go close in another feature this Sunday with another litter mate of Burnt Briar and Tira Mira, Silver Sticks.

The latter rounded out a winning double for the kennel when he recorded a dominant victory as the $1.35 favourite in heat two of the Tommy Hoyland Memorial Fifth Grade series.

In winning, Silver Sticks recorded his third consecutive win at Capalaba in eerily similar fashion to the previous two.

At his last three starts, the Blue-Brindle dog has began only fairly before finding clear running in the centre of the track and bursting away over the concluding stages to win by 4.75 lengths.

“He’s had a few issues with minor injuries that have kept him away from the track at different times, but when he’s right he just puts his head down and goes,” Sant said.

“He was wiped out in a semi-final of the Vince Curry, he didn’t fall but it was pretty nasty and he developed some diabetes caused by stress.”

Silver Sticks has come up with box six in the Final and will come up against another quality field, including impressive heat winners Super Shanks, Bartel Hayze and Magistrate.

“What a classy field for that Final, this club is going from strength to strength,” Sant said.

“The winner will be the one that gets a straight run without interference.

“But, box six is good – it really doesn’t matter where he draws, he comes out fairly straight and runs his race. Hopefully, he won’t come down on his nose again. I’m not sure whether it’s over-excitement or whether he’s not getting his legs going properly, but he has a great finishing burst.”

Bartel Hayze won the opening heat in a Best Of Meeting 19.56 seconds for trainer Sandra Hunt, beating home the Mark Ware-trained Potato Peeler by 5.5 lengths.

The Greg Stella-trained Magistrate extended his unbeaten record to four by taking out the third heat over New South Wales visitor Rise Up in 19.63 seconds.

Short-priced favourite Super Shanks won the fourth and final heat in 19.79 seconds for Chris Brydon, beating home second favourite Perfect Tyrant for Ray Burman. 

The Bianca Whitford kennel claimed the past two runnings of the Tommy Hoyland Memorial via Kismet Storm (2021) and Ninetymile King (2020).

TOMMY HOYLAND MEMORIAL BOX DRAW

1. Super Shanks (Chris Brydon)

2. Bartel Hayze (Sandra Hunt)

3. Potato Peeler (Mark Ware)

4. Rise Up (Leanne Goodwin)

5. Benny’s Jet (Gloria Falla)

6. Silver Sticks (Cliff Houston)

7. Perfect Tyrant (Ray Burman)

8. Magistrate (Greg Stella)

Handsome Alert (9. First Reserve), Shinigami (10. Second Reserve).