Trainer Damien Burns won’t Hesitate in 2024 Protostar chase

When Australia’s richest and newest two-year-old race was unveiled late last year, Ballarat trainer Damien Burns immediately made it a dream target for the then-unraced Hesitate.

Trainer Damien Burns drives Hesitate to victory at Melton Park in March. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Victorian hobby trainer Damien Burns is daring to dream big.

When Australia’s richest and newest two-year-old race, the $500,000 Protostar, was unveiled late last year, Burns immediately got excited.

The Ballarat horseman has trained some nice young pacers – Youaremysunshine and Solesseo Matuca spring to mind – but felt he had found his best yet in the then unraced Hesitate.

“I said to Scott (Petrie), who bred the horse with me, we should buy a slot in the Protostar just for this horse, but we missed the deadline,” Burns said.

“Then I knew we’d have to do it on the track, hope he was as good as I thought he was and he could catch the eye of one of the slot holders.”

Hesitate did just that with three wins, a second and a third from his first five starts.

“I was interviewed after his second win and asked all the slot holders to ring us,” Burns said. “We had to wait a while longer and I wondered if it would ever come, but we finally got a call.

“Ladbrokes, who had two slots in the race, rang asking if we’d do a deal and we jumped at it.

“It’s eight months since Scott and I first talked about this race and now we’re in it and it’s just over a week away.

“Just to be in a race like this is a dream come true for little guys in the game like us. The thrill we’ve already got is huge.”

PROTOSTAR PREPARATION!
The Highlight Reel and Hesitate trialled impressively tonight at Melton before heading north for the $500,000 Protostar at @TheCreekAlbion on Saturday July [e-mail]/HB0ulR9X03

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) July 15, 2024

Hesitate shared a flight from Melbourne to Brisbane with pacing royalty – champion mare Ladies In Red – on Tuesday. She runs in Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park.

Burns has opted to give Hesitate a lead-up run on the same night in the Group 3 Paleface Adios Classic at Albion Park.

“He’s had a couple of trials, but a race and the chance to have a look around the track is a big bonus,” he said.

Hesitate has drawn barrier one and meets other confirmed Protostar runners Bittersweet (gate three), Sweet On Lexy (five), Forty Love (seven) and Fate Awaits (eight) on Saturday night.

“It’ll certainly give us a guide as to where we sit in the pecking order before the big one,” Burns said.

“As I’ve said from day one, whatever beats him in a race will need to be a bloody good horse. I think he’s the best I’ve had. He’s got incredibly high speed, which is what excites me most.”

Burns’ confidence grew when Hesitate ran a close second to Emma Stewart’s unbeaten youngster and current $2 Protostar favourite The Highlight Reel in a Melton trial last Monday night.

The Highlight Reel is a hot favourite for the Protostar. Picture: Stuart McCormick

“If he’s the benchmark, then we’re right in the race on the strength of the trial. To pull two lengths off him in the home straight and get so close was a great sign,” he said.

Burns will drive Hesitate himself on Saturday night, but premier Victorian driver Kate Gath will take the reins in the Protostar.

“That’s why Kate’s driven him in his past two trials, to get a good feel of him. We’re thrilled to have somebody like her on for the big one,” Burns said.

Hesitate is one of four Victorians amongst the eight confirmed Protostar runners. The others are: The Highlight Reel, his stablemate Cigano and the Aaron Dunn-trained Forty Love.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Trainer Damien Burns won’t Hesitate in 2024 Protostar chase