Wagga, Tamworth previews: Trainer Darrell Burnet set to keep the winners flowing with Kermandie River

Wagga trainer has a strong hand at his home track on Monday – most notably with the Gerry Harvey-owned Kermandie River, who fronts up just nine days after a stunning maiden win.

The Darrell Burnet-trained Kermandie River is looking to make it two on the trot when he steps out at Wagga on Monday.

Gerry Harvey could add one more of his bush string to the ‘possibles’ column for the 2025 Country Championships series should the wins continue to flow for the Baramaul-bred Kermandier River.

Trained at Wagga by Darrell Burnet, Kermandie River will front up at home for the just third time on Monday and only nine days after his stunning all-the-way, four-and-a-quarter length win at the Riverina circuit.

• Wagga, Tamworth tips and inside mail for Monday

“I was pretty confident but I didn’t expect him to win in that manner but the race just went perfectly to plan,’’ Burnet said.

“He jumped, he travelled, he controlled the race and he was able to just keep quickening to the line

“Monday, once again, I will be pretty confident.

“I am really happy with the way he came through that run, he has certainly taken no ill-effects from it however he won’t run on anything worse than a Soft 6.

“Just with that previous tendon injury he’s had, I wouldn’t risk him because I do think he could be a Country Championship horse in the making.

“He has enough scope and the fact he won so easily over 1200m when he is by Kermadec out of a Zabeel mare, he is definitely one to look forward to.’’

🔥 An easy 4L win for Kermandie River (#Kermadec)

Kermandie River bolted home, claiming victory in race 2 over 1,200m at Wagga.

🔹 Standing at Northwood Park, Vic https://t.co/TT88SYXQdUpic.twitter.com/F5lb0QEZx0

— Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) September 21, 2024

Kermandie River was born and raised at Baramul Stud (once home to Star Kingdom, Biscay, Red Anchor and others).

His sire Kermadec won a Doncaster whilst his dam, Zingara, was fourth in the Queensland Oaks and South Australian Oaks.

Burnet, who bought Kermandie River at the Gold Coast in 2022 for $25,000, could have as many as five runners on Monday’s Wagga card including the barnstormer Hot Toddy who races in the same colours as the reigning Country Championship winner, Asgarda.

Owned and bred by the historic Riverina nursery Kooringal Stud, Hot Toddy is a son of their resident sire, VRC Derby winner Prized Icon.

“Hot Toddy is a nice horse to have in the stable,’’ Burnet says.

“He’s a very relaxed gelding so as much as he has done enough work at home and he’s had two jump-outs, I really think the race will bring him up to the mark.

“Going there knowing that he is going well but just mindful that the run will bring him up to the mark.’’

Burnet enticed one of Australia’s most prolific winning jockeys – Nick Heywood – to steer three of his five participants on Monday, namely the aforementioned Kermandie River as well as first starter Fire Your Guns and the lightly-raced Divine Conclusion.

“Divine Conclusion failed at his last start last campaign on a wet track, however he was hard on the inside that day which was the worst place to be so I’m happy to forgive that,’’ Burnet said.

“Hopefully the track gets to about a Soft 6 on Monday.

“His jump-out the other day was really, really impressive.

“I am looking for a very forward showing from him again first-up which is what he did last prep.’’

Burnet, meanwhile, is a lot more confident than the bookies when it comes to Liquor Talk who was priced at $11 to win the Wagga Workwear Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800m).

“His work on Tuesday was the best it has been all prep which is a sign to me that he is handling his racing and taking a little bit of improvement each run,’’ the trainer enthused.

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Mason keen to test Who Goes There in town

The Mark Mason-trained Who Goes There wins at Tamworth back in May. Picture: Bradley Photos

Mark Mason can start preparing for a trip from Tamworth to Sydney some time in the near future but only if he’s one-time boom sprinter Who Goes There can regain his stature when he resumes at home on Monday.

The son of Golden Rose winner Exosphere burst onto the racing scene in the late autumn of 2023, winning his first two starts by big margins in sizzling time.

Who Goes There’s ran his rivals off their feet to win at Scone on debut, clocking 50.63 second for the 900m.

A month later, Mason’s gelding went 56 and change in a 1000m Benchmark 58 at Tamworth.

Fast forward to the summer of 2023/24 and Who Goes There was nowhere to be seen in his two respective visits to Gosford and Muswellbrook, finishing seventh each time.

“He didn’t seem to come up last prep,’’ Mason said.

“You listen to the old fellas, they say ‘one bad run, forgive ‘em, two bad runs, put ‘em in the paddock’.

“They weren’t disgraceful runs but he was better than what he did.’’

Mason has served up Who Goes There the best available race to wind back the clock and potentially pave a path towards a TAB Highway.

“That’s why we’ve got Christian (Reith) on him on Monday,’’ Mason said.

“He rides enough good horses to know whether he thinks he’s good enough to go and have a go at one or whether we’re aiming a bit high, one or the other.’’

Barrier 5 in the Courthouse Hotel Class 3 (1000m) is an added boost to the Mason-trained gelding’s prospects.

“If things go his way, he’ll be in front or outside the leader, something like that,’’ the trainer says.

“We just opted not to trial him, just give him the jump-outs and keep him on the fresher side.’’

Reith and Mason are shooting for a double on Monday with the pair combining earlier on the card via the local, Deebo, who resumes in the Cannon Accounting & Taxation Class 2 Handicap (1200m).

“They have jump-outs fortnightly here and he’s had two lots of those, two half-mile jump-outs and a few gallops in between, so I think he’ll be pretty good (fitness-wise),’’ Mason said.

“It is his own grade, it’s a Class 2 and the 1200m should suit I think.’’

Originally published as Wagga, Tamworth previews: Trainer Darrell Burnet set to keep the winners flowing with Kermandie River