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By Tony Megahey

For six-year-old mare Wonfontein, in a fourth stable change, betting markets and form assessors align with overwhelming opposition in Saturday’s 1400m $100,000 Royal Randwick TAB Highway.

However, assessments were no different in January when a dream became a reality for Bulahdelah’s training newcomer, equine dentist and breaker Joe Burges into the regional series.

Wonfontein is a despised outsider at $126 on TAB through sackings by profile Victorian trainers Robert Hickmott and Henry Dwyer, then in NSW by Edward Cummings and mixed form for Burges.

Joe Burges with Wonfontein at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

But failures since winning a modest Port Macquarie Class 1 in January, doesn’t deter Joe.

“She’s limited but tough as bloody teak,” offers knockabout Joe.

“She relishes rain-affected tracks, that will bring some of them back to her and her overall form is better than it looks.

“The 1200’s have been too short, she’s improved with racing this prep.

“If there’s a time to have a crack in town with her, this is it. And we’ve still got our tails up from last time,” Joe chuckled.

Then stablemate Markwell Dreamer, was similarly overlooked.

The very first purchase for little known Joe and neighbour Jayden Dorney, naturally their initial starter at hallowed headquarters, upset the favourites to win a Highway courtesy of a Jason Collett riding gem.

Wonfontein on Saturday has 54kg into a $100,000 Class 3, 1400m with a jockey yet to be finalised.

Markwell Dreamer was a $4000 bargain. And Joe amidst celebrations on his 36th birthday said “Dreamer” was appropriate for Jayden, himself and his wife Emma with a small team on a 120-acre property, Markwell neighbouring Bulahdelah.

Similar circumstances apply with Wonfontein. After a dozen starts Wonfontein finally broke through, winning a Class I at Port Macquarie in January, second at Scone, but failed several times since.

Her previous win was a Kilmore maiden win for Hickmott in April of 2020. If the mare is just two wins from 27 starts and six placings, what have they got to lose with a $23,000 return so far?

In addition to Markwell Dreamer’s $60,000 from a $4000 outlay?

TAB Highway prizemoney extends from $40,000 to the winner back to $2800 for tenth placegetter.

“Last prep the win at ‘Port’ and second at Scone are up to a class 3 country race,” adds Joe who is pure racing.

As a schoolboy he was champion Camp Draft rider who eventually represented Australia at The Royal Easter Show and now trainer, breaker, trackwork rider, dentist and farrier.

His grandfather Joseph Curran was an AJC life member who raced horses for decades with Tommy Smith and died in 2009 at a remarkable 102 years.

Meanwhile, Joe is monitoring the travel conditions on his farm near the banks of the Myall River through the severe regional flooding that remain a concern for all regional trainers, travelling to Sydney for the Highway.

At present Randwick remains a Heavy 10 after incessant rain.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here