After a three-month hiatus due to visa issues, Irish expat Erica Byrne Burke found form immediately on her return to race riding at Devonport last Sunday, combining with her former master, Adam Trinder, for a double.
Her first success came via lightly raced three-year-old filly Twice The Ice, who finished off powerfully to clear maiden ranks over 1350 metres at her first run back from a six-month break.
Byrne Burke completed her double on the speedy Thoros Of Myr, who ran his rivals ragged in the Class 2 handicap over 1150 metres, bolting in by 5½ lengths.
The victory gave Trinder a treble at the meeting as he earlier took the benchmark 60 handicap over 1350 metres with Rubick’s Affair, who enjoyed a trail just off the pace under current stable apprentice Christopher Pang then gained an inside split in the drive to the line, prevailing narrowly in a tight three-way finish.
In-form trainer Barry Campbell also had a good day at the office, bookending the meeting.
He kicked off with debutant Simply Deep, who led throughout under Chloe Wells to take the open-age maiden plate over 1009 metres.
The Shalaa gelding is bred to be good, being a half-brother to Group 2 Sandown Guineas winner Morton’s Fork.
Campbell completed his double with former Chris Waller representative Shy Guy, who box-seated under Kelvin Sanderson then railed home strongly to best stablemate Bayside, who’d tried valiantly to lead all the way, in the Class 2 handicap over 1650 metres.