EJAZ GOES FOR 2ND SHOT AT POLYTRACK

Trainer Burridge believes in race-by-race approach to smart horse with screw in knee

- Michael Lee

With a metal rod keeping one of Ejaz's knees together, trainer Steven Burridge would not want things to get even more "screwed up" for the talented sprinter.

The Australian horseman takes care of his 28 horses like his own children, but Ejaz is probably one of those who gets a second lookover before he locks up the barn every evening, especially that offfore knee.

When the son of Street Boss came to him after his former trainer Michael Clements left Singapore in September 2023, Burridge had to hang fire before he could push the reset button after the knee operation-induced one-year break.

Even after he did, Ejaz did not pick up where he left off.

A brilliant four-in-a-row once firmed him as the ante-post favourite for the 2023 3YO series, but the injury dashed all those hopes.

It also proved to be a setback that could not be overcome overnight.

The first-up closing fourth in a Class 3 (1,200m) on March 9 was encouraging, but the follow-up when stepped up to 1,400m three weeks later was a disaster.