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By Tony Megahey

Bulahdelah’s Joe Burges has had a training licence only into a second season, but his education extends way beyond, attempting a third TAB Highway success with topweight Zaru ($6 on TAB) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Young Joe is the engaging anecdote of a decade plus on cattle and horse stations as a stockman, breaker, camp drafter, equine dentist and farrier.

Later combined with a keen eye for a bargain when he made the natural progression to training.

Zaru (Sam Clipperton) pounces to claim a TAB Highway at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

Joe’s incentive is the booming prizemoney levels by Racing NSW for any ambitious young horseman.

With a small team, Joe’s previous TAB Highway wins with Markwell Dreamer and Zaru is convincing enough for headquarters.

Where the five-year-old Rubick gelding Zaru carries an imposing 61kg less the 1.5kg claim for in-form Tyler Schiller into the TAB $120,000 Class 2, 1400m.

From a precarious barrier 17 but certain to come in the way emergencies are drawn and scratchings.

Zaru’s credentials of a Rosehill Gardens series win in August, successive placings and an unlucky second from absolute last in a far tougher benchmark 68 at Newcastle recently, are the strongest credentials. Hence by far the highest rater at 70.

“I would have thought so, back to a class 2 after winning a solid class 3, and a that big run at Newcastle in a benchmark 68,” Joe enthused.

“That’s why he got the 61.5kg, expected it, so we claimed.”  Zaru carried 55.5kg winning 1300m at 'The Gardens in August.

“We gave him a couple of months off; I don’t think travelling to Sydney every fortnight is the right formula for these Highways. The longer the travel for country trainers and too quick a back-up takes too much out of them.

“This gelding’s run fresh at Newcastle proved that. He’s come on. I ride him in all his work - he’s quirky, but he’s tough and genuine. Out to 1400m suits if we get any luck from the barrier.”

Early season Joe won a Highway with Markwell Dreamer, his very first starter at headquarters and his first purchase as a trainer. When Joe took over Zaru, he was a modest lone maiden winner at Taree from 20 starts.

With Joe, he’s six starts for a Highway win and three placings. Including a Newcastle BM second. This prep it belies his overall record of two wins from 26 starts.

“He came here in good order, in the same ownership, I think he just needed a change in environment.”

In early betting Zaru is $6 second favourite behind in-form Cameron Crockett’s Super Extreme at $4.40 because of the influence of James McDonald.

Crockett has also accepted with Titration (Jason Collett-$11) and Indicative (Kerrin McEvoy-$7.50). Headquarters at present is a Good 4 in fine weather.

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