Wagga trainer Darrell Burnet chasing first city winner after becoming a father

Wagga trainer Darrell Burnet has become a father and will be chasing a first city winner with a horse deemed to have “limited ability”.

Darrell Burnet and his wife Brittany. Picture: X

New father Darrell Burnet hopes to celebrate his new daughter with a first city winner at Rosehill on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Wagga-based thoroughbred all-rounder became a father last weekend when his wife Brittany, the sister of leading Southern Districts jockey Nick Heywood, gave birth to the couple’s first child Pippa.

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“It would be great if we could get our first city winner this week too,” Burnet said.

Burnet grew up in England and was obsessed with UK jumps racing before moving to Australia where he turned his dream into a reality.

“We moved near Mornington racecourse and that was it,” he said.

“I worked for Robbie Kingston and Jason Warren then moved to Wagga and did a bachelor degree in equine science which I completed and while here I also met my wife Brittany.

“So I stayed here, started pre-training and breaking a few in and things have just continued to grow.

“Passion and determination have been my biggest assets. This is what I’ve always dreamt of doing and nothing is going to stop me from making it a success.

“Slowly we’re building our team of racehorses and things are going OK.”

Friday meetings…. You’re On Mute resumes back after a spell for @DarrellBurnet! pic.twitter.com/bOVbYzZwdJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 17, 2023

Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Burnet’s stocks have continued to rise with the small stable firing at 25 per cent winners to runners with 12 victories from 48 starters including Saturday’s Rosehill runner You’re On Mute who’s two from two.

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The four-year-old daughter of Cable Bay was sacked by a former trainer deemed to have “limited ability” but with patience and persistence that has turned around since the mare ventured to the races for the first time in April this year.

Burnet found “the easiest maiden” he could find at Leeton back in April and You’re On Mute got the job done before returning from a spell on Snake Gully Cup day at Gundagai last month.

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“She’s come back a few lengths better horse and first-up we had a bit of a punt on her and got the coin,” Burnett said.

So what about You’re On Mute’s prospects in the Highway Handicap (1100m) on Saturday?

“I never thought she would be a Highway horse but she gets in with 51 kilos, she jumps, travels, handles wet ground, she tries and has a will to win so I definitely think it’s worth a crack,” he said.