Trainer Joe Burges was confident Markwell Dreamer had enough ability to figure in the finish of Saturday’s TAB Highway provided he did everything right. He prayed the four year old wouldn’t overdo things in the race, and would maintain a straight course in the run home. As it turned out Joe needn’t have worried.
Markwell Dreamer slipped through from the inside gate to settle midfield and relaxed like a seasoned campaigner. He was nowhere near a major scrimmage at the 600m which saw three runners severely inconvenienced. On straightening for home Jason Collett secured a dream run between Fangela and Great Buy, and suddenly it was time to see if the flashy chestnut could live up to his trainer’s expectations.
“The rest is a bit of a blur,” said Joe on Sunday morning. “I was on ground level where all the strappers gather to watch the big screen. I started hollering when I saw him dive between horses and I was out of control when he put them away in a couple of strides. I couldn’t believe it had happened. A Randwick winner just twelve months after saddling my first runner.
Markwell Dreamer, a $4000 Inglis Digital purchase put it all together to win Saturday's TAB Highway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“On dismounting Jason Collett told me Markwell Dreamer had raced like a very competitive racehorse. He said he relaxed beautifully and let down like a horse with more wins in store. That report was music to my ears. If only Jason knew how many sleepless nights we’ve had over this horse. To add to the thrill my kids Connie (6) and Harry (4) were at the races with me. They’ll never forget their first trip to Randwick. Connie was thrilled when Jason Collett gave her his race goggles, and she’s hardly had them off since. I was so overwhelmed with the win I almost forgot I was turning thirty six on Sunday. What a birthday present.”
Genetics may have contributed marginally to Joe’s interest in thoroughbreds. His great grandfather was Joseph Curran, a long time Sydney racehorse owner and Australian Jockey Club member who had horses with Tommy Smith for several decades. He was never blessed with an elite horse, but won many races on metropolitan tracks over a long period of years. Joe Curran died in 2009 at the remarkable age of 102.
The late Joe Curran would have been proud to see his great grandson train a winner at Royal Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Joe Burges is a relative newcomer when it comes to training thoroughbreds, but his talents in the campdrafting world are highly respected. He’s been successful at the top level since his teen years, and on three occasions has represented his country in World Championship Invitational events at the Sydney Royal. He wasn’t able to walk away with the elite prize, but won a few “rounds” and was humbled by the experience. Joe’s burgeoning workload is starting to restrict the time he has available for campdrafting. His wife Emma continues to compete successfully at a high level.
Joe and Emma Burges live with their children on a fifty hectare property at Markwell, ten kilometres from Buladelah on the NSW mid north coast. He has the use of several large paddocks with shelter sheds and a roomy sand arena in which he’s able to condition campdrafters and thoroughbreds. His principal livelihood for a number of years was derived from a combination of horse dentistry and the training of campdrafters. Such is his expertise in equine dentistry, that he has garnered a large clientele over a wide area. “I devote one full day a week to dentistry as far afield as Tamworth, Inverell and Goulburn,” said Joe. “Sometimes I finish so late I have to stay the night somewhere, before heading home early next morning.”
In recent years the odd thoroughbred has started to sneak into the Markwell operation. Burges quickly adapted to the breaking in of the new breed and found himself slowly falling under their spell.
With the prospect of further involvement already creeping into his thoughts, Joe found himself all but besotted with a Dream Ahead filly he was asked to break in by Tuncurry-Forster trainer Terry Evans. “I don’t know what it was about that filly but she ticked every box,” he said. “Not long after a Dream Ahead yearling colt appeared on the Inglis Digital Sale catalogue.
Joe is able to give his horses a strong foundation in the sand arena at his Markwell property.
“His dam Ballerina Girl was Coolmore bred and had won three metropolitan races, two at Sandown and one at Cheltenham. She was by the terrific stallion Danehill Dancer from a mare by Vain. “By the time I made up my mind to throw in a bid, my good mate Jayden Dorney had offered to go halves. We suddenly found ourselves joint owners of a Dream Ahead colt for $4000. He broke in nicely and was pretty good to work with. We had him gelded at two years and put him away again. He was an autumn three year old when we took him to the Newcastle trials. He did everything right, won the trial comfortably and jockey Ashley Morgan couldn’t believe it was his first time out. Little did we know he would soon undergo a personality change,” said Joe.
It’s fair to say his first preparation was a complete disaster even though he managed a couple of thirds. He wanted to do everything a million miles an hour and developed the dreadful habit of drifting off the track in the run home. A couple of jockeys felt he was looking for the gate through which he’d come onto the track.
Following a long spell Markwell Dreamer won a Coffs Harbour maiden, ran fourth at Port Macquarie and then won a Cl 1 at Grafton. Luke Rolls endeavored to settle him off the pace, but the gelding went fiercely and was lucky to keep off the heels of the leader. He struck the front at the 200m and then got up to his old tricks by drifting to the middle of the track. “They don’t usually do so much wrong and still win,” said the trainer “I was pretty pleased.”
There was plenty of grass on the Grafton track when Markwell Dreamer won a Cl. 1 last October - courtesy Trackside Photography.
The chestnut with the bold blaze and four white stockinged feet wasn’t seen again for twelve weeks. He was sporting a new piece of gear when he appeared in a Taree barrier trial on January 11th.
“I was listening to an interview with Gerald Ryan on Sky Racing in which he explained that Ellsberg had been drifting off the track in his races,” said Joe. “Gerald said a near side blinker had worked wonders with the horse. I had absolutely nothing to lose and quickly added similar gear to our horse. He tracked perfectly in the barrier trial and again at Randwick on Saturday. I should give Gerald some of the credit for the win.”
In winning the TAB Highway, Markwell Dreamer gave the thirty six year old trainer his seventh success in just over twelve months. Emmy’s Our Girl got him away to a great start with consecutive wins at Wellington and Parkes while Barry’s Lane won at Kempsey in June of last year. Then came Markwell Dreamer’s wins at Coffs Harbour and Grafton followed by a Port Macquarie success with Wonfontein early this year. From bush tracks to the hallowed stretches of Royal Randwick was bordering on surreal. By his own admission Joe is still in a daze.
The trainer’s Markwell location enables him to give his racehorses a varied training routine. On slow days he uses his home sand arena before returning the horses to their paddocks and to ample supplies of green grass. When a serious fast gallop is required he makes the trip to the Taree racecourse. At least one day a week he floats four horses to beautiful Hawks Nest Beach where equine activities are encouraged by the local council. He has a good knowledge of the local tidal pattern and is able to judge the ideal time to gallop horses alongside the blue Pacific. Joe rides all the horses himself.
A little slice of paradise! Joe likes to give his horses a change of scenery once a week at beautiful Hawks Nest beach.
“My assistant helps me saddle up and keeps his eye on three horses while I work the fourth,” says Joe. “I’m able to warm up at the trot on the endless bush tracks that run parallel to the beach. I can enter the beach at several different points, and I have the pick of three different distances over which I can work the horses - 850m, 1250m and 1500m. I like to work them back towards our truck because they seem to be more generous in their attitude. Horses working alone are always happier when they know where they’re going.”
For the past year Joe has been working with a team of twelve horses at any one time - six racehorses and six “breakers”. The odd campdrafter infiltrates the ranks from time to time, but they are becoming increasingly rare as the thoroughbred population gradually increases. With the Taree Country Championship heat not due until Feb 20th, Joe is planning to start Markwell Dreamer in a Cl 3 TAB Highway at Randwick two weeks earlier. “He’ll need the run and the experience,” said the trainer. “The 1200m of the Highway will also give us an indication of his chances over 1400m in the Championship heat.”
Long time Sky racing presenter Gary Kliese provides the perfect finish for my story. You could count on one hand the number of northern NSW trainers who are not known to the popular Kliese. Some months ago Gary quizzed his co presenter Priscilla Looker about the identity of a horseman he didn’t recognize in the Taree mounting enclosure. Priscilla’s reply was succinct. “That’s a trainer called Joe Burges from Buladelah,” she said. “Make a note of his name Gary. You’ll be hearing a lot more about him.” Thanks for your contribution guys!
Markwell Dreamer opens his winning account at Coffs Harbour - Courtesy Trackside Photography.
Joe was pleased when Markwell Dreamer finally got his name on the board - Coffs Harbour September 2021 - courtesy Trackside Photography.
(Banner image - Markwell Dreamer strolled home in Saturday's TAB Highway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)