Dr John Burke has been a successful owner-breeder since the 1970s and there’s more black-type victories ahead with his promising three year-old Mister John.

Mister John (3g Strada – Kats Clause by Weasel Clause) will be set for the Listed Tasmanian Guineas in a fortnight after powering home in the 3YO Trophy (1400m) in Launceston on Wednesday night.  The Royston Carr-trained gelding came from the tail of the field to defeat Kenjorwood (Snippetson) and odds-on favourite Arenzano (Not A Single Doubt) by a length.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Burke said.  “He was very green early on but to win like that suggests he might be a good chance in the Guineas.”

Mister John is a homebred for the Tasmanian veterinary surgeon.  He was unbeaten in three starts earlier this year before going down for the first time in the 3YO Cup at Launceston on December 5.

The Strada gelding is from Dr Burke’s class mare Kats Clause who won 8 races in Tasmania and Melbourne topped by a G3 victory in the 2006 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield.

Her first foal Miss Elizabeth (Lucky Owners) broke her maiden at Devonport in May.  It completed a running double for Dr Burke who had watched Mister John win on debut earlier in the day.

Burke also raced second dam Georgia Mist (Orient Way) to a feature win in the 1997 3YO Cup at Launceston.  She was prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Len Dixon who passed away aged 87 earlier this month.

Leading jockey Stephen Maskiell rode Georgia Mist and he was impressed with her grandson on Wednesday night.  “He’s very talented and is probably still six months away from being a top-class galloper,” Maskiell said after weighing in.  “But what he’s doing at the moment makes him one of the better three-year-olds.”

Maskiell will be aboard when Mister John starts one of the favourites in the $90,000 Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) in Launceston on January 2.

– Karl Patterson

MISTER JOHN
Promising 3Yo with John Burke and Siggy Carr