Racing
Luck of the Irish worth following
Byrne Burke on fire to start 25/26.
It may well pay to follow jockey Erica Byrne Burke over the next few weeks, with all meetings this month being staged at her home track in Devonport.
Byrne Burke, who is off to a great start for the season, rides more winners in Devonport than she does at any other Tasmanian track.
Her winning strike rate on the synthetic track is 19.80% compared to 11.50% in Launceston and 10.80% in Hobart.
She was off to a flyer at last week's Devonport meeting with the first two winners on what turned out to be an abbreviated six-race card.
Byrne Burke heads the premiership table after the first six meetings of the season with seven winners and 10 placings from just 31 rides.
"I'm really happy with that, it's all down to all the support I'm getting from the trainers and all the good rides," Byrne Burke said.
The former top apprentice is riding her first full season as a senior jockey; she still works for her former boss, Adam Trinder , but is in demand with most of the state's leading stables.
Sunday will be a busy day for the popular Irish-born jockey, having eight rides on the nine-race card.
"Having so many rides is great; it gives me plenty of opportunities to pick up a winner.
"It will be a busy day, heading out riding, back to the jockeys' room and preparing for the next, you don't really have a lot of time to relax.
"I usually do my form the night before, and I like to be organised for a busy day, know exactly what weight I need to be for each ride. I try to keep it pretty simple."
As for unwinding after a hectic day at the track?
"I do like to finish up my day, I'm normally the last out of the jockeys' room, everyone has a laugh at how long I take, if it's not too late, we might go out for a nice meal with a few friends or something like that."
Hopefully, that might be a celebratory meal. Byrne Burke is quietly confident there are some good winning chances amongst her book of rides.
"I like Cherokee Dancer (race 1), she's in really good order, she will definitely be there at the finish, and Platinum Reggae (race 7) for Trent Wells, I think it will race well."
It's an earlier start this week with the first of nine races at 12:15. Catch all the action on Tasracing Live.
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