“You can see the improvement in my strength, which translates in my riding.”
Bourke has seven rides at Randwick on Saturday. Although they are all at double-figure odds with the exception of Flag Hall for Lee Freedman, there is a belief when she talks about her chances.
“It used to be a big day on a Saturday if I got four rides, but in the past couple of months I have been getting a good go with a lot of bigger trainers,” Bourke said.
“That comes from riding winners and showing I’m getting better. I’m staying on horses as well, which gives you a lot of confidence.
“With the way I’m going now, if I can keep it going for the next season, I would be a chance at the apprentices title with Zac and Dylan coming out of their time, and that’s something that I didn’t think was possible last year.”
Bourke built a good association with Felix Majestic as he went through the grades and, after a couple of stakes runs, he drops back to a benchmark 88 with Bourke back in the saddle to claim. He has been posted an $18 chance, but Bourke is clear on the way he will be ridden.
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“Gary Nickson has been great for me and supporting me, and Felix Majestic has been a good horse to me. I have had the two rides on him for a win and second and I know him well,” Bourke said.
“He is a bit of a one-trick horse: you just have to let him run. You can’t hold him up, so he can be a bit awkward if you run into the one that wants to take you on.
“But under the right conditions he is a very tough horse, and very hard to run down, and that could happen on Saturday.”
Bourke also rates her chances on last-start Newcastle winner Star Impact in the Midway.
“He has been running very consistently and on his last run I thought he was up to winning a Midway,” she said.
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