Nikita Burton has a week to celebrate

It’s been quite a week for Canterbury based junior driver Nikata Burton.

She hasn’t driven a lot of trotters and her first win with Kairaki Spur (What The Hill) in the $25,000 Darren DeFilippi Memorial for junior drivers at Addington last night was a nice way to get started.

“It was a bit of a shock, but it’s a pretty awesome achievement really. I had a little tear in my eye after the line,” she said.

After a solid beginning Burton settled Kairaki Spur third behind pacemaker Almighty and the trailing horse Didn’t Di.

Almighty kept up a solid tempo, not allowing any of the handicap horses to get into the race. Halfway down the straight Almighty had a length and a half lead. But once Burton angled Kairaki Spur out into centre track the gelding started to cut into Almighty’s margin. At the line he was a head in front of Almighty with three and a quarter lengths back to Didn’t Di.

KAIRAKI SPUR REPLAY

“Deane (trainer Warren Stapleton’s son) said to me that if the speed is on, he’ll be right in the race and he was spot on. It was good to get one for Deane and Warren. I worked there for a little bit before coming to Stonewall. About three weeks ago I rang Deane after the horse had won and told him about this race, so I’m glad I could get the win for him.”

Bred by Woodlands Stud, Kairaki Spur who is out of a Pegasus Spur daughter of the legendary Merinai, was a $25,000 purchase at the 2022 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka.

He qualified and won one race for Robert and Jenna Dunn and then had sixteen months off the scene before he reappeared for the Stapleton barn where he won first up.

“They do an unreal job. I was thinking the other day, imagine having a barn full of horses with crooked legs. It must be a headache, but so rewarding at the same time. It’s a huge honour to them on how they look after the horses and get them back on the track.”

The five year old gelding is owned by Warren, Deane and his original owners, the Kairaki Beach Syndicate.

It’s been a good week for Burton. During the week she was given a wild card entry into the New Zealand Junior Driver Championship raced at Alexandra Park and Ashburton next month.

“That was a big shook too. I thought a few months back that it would be awesome to get into that group of juniors. Looking at the group now it’s a pretty talented group to be involved with. Hopefully with a bit of luck I can get my name out there a bit more.”

Nikita was introduced to harness racing through her father Neil Burton.

“He always trained a couple, but that was as a hobby because he always had a job. I was brought up around horses but I used to ride. I loved eventing and jumping. I would always go to the track and help Dad but I’d never be the one in the cart. I just geared up and washed them. We were coming home from the races one day and I asked Dad if I could have a drive one day. Sure enough the next day we went up to the Methven track and I had a drive and never really looked back.”

Nikita now works fulltime for Steve and Amanda Telfer at Stonewall Stud.

“I’m in a great environment. I’ve got two of the best drivers to drive work with. Tim and Ants (Tim Williams and Anthony Butt) are great to me and there’s also Terry (Chmiel). I’m very lucky in that way. Mandy has been great to me and I’ve driven a few nice horses over the year and a half I’ve been driving.” 

Most of Burton’s wins have been in Southland as she is often charged with bringing the Stonewall team south.

“It’s so special because Dad comes with me a lot. He does mornings with Warren and Deane so he’s quite flexible. It’s our little trip away. We take turns at driving. I don’t enjoy doing the hills, so he does most of that.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink