Life After Simon: Burnett Back On The Big Stage

LIFE after Simon Told Helen has kicked into action quicker than expected for trainer David Burnett.

And on Thursday night at Sandown Park the group 1 winning mentor is hopeful that the interestingly named Wedding Or Baby can spring an upset victory in the Group 3 Launching Pad Final (515m).

A son of Fernando Bale, Wedding Or Baby qualified for Thursday night's $150,000-to-the-winner finale with a surprise semi-final victory at $81, downing favourite Aston Rupee by a half-length in 29.69.

From box six in Thursday night's star-studded finale Wedding Or Baby will again go around monster odds, Burnett conceding that a minor placed finish would exceed expectations.

"The dog can run but it's just been a case of getting it out of him consistently," Burnett said.

"He'll go low 23s in post-to-posts at Sandown which is very good but then you see what some of the other dogs' in the series are running and you think you need to find six or seven lengths.

"But racing can be a leveler and he showed last week anything can happen if you do things right and put yourself in the mix.

"Fingers crossed he can do the same Thursday but realistically if he could fill a hole I'd be over the moon."

The origin of Wedding Or Baby's name carries an interesting backstory.

"During Covid last year my son Jack and his then fiancee Lucy were due to get married on New Year's Eve," Burnett recalled.

"With all the restrictions at one stage they could have 100 guests then it was 50 before back to 100 – it was all over the place.

"Because of the uncertainty they were discussing one day the idea of putting the wedding back a year and having a baby first instead.

"It was around that time I had to name the pup so I went with Wedding Or Baby.

"As it turned out when that discussion was going on she already was pregnant but just didn't know it yet. And they still got married with a full guest list.

"So his name really should have been Wedding And Baby as it turned out."

Burnett is no stranger to trundling into Sandown Park to contest a major race.

In the past 18 months he's done it time and time again with his champion sprinter Simon Told Helen, prevailing more often than not.

But while Simon Told Helen would go around feared by his opposition it's a vastly different story this Thursday night with Wedding Or Baby lining up as the rank outsider.

A few weeks back, Burnett found out through the media that Simon Told Helen was returning to racing with Queensland trainer Tony Brett, his relationship with the ownership group understood to be strained.

And despite steering the champion sprinter to 26 wins, nine group race victories including four at group 1 level and $912,691 in stakes, Burnett holds no resentment, testament to his character.

"Tony's a great trainer and I hope he goes on and reaches the $1 million mark – the dog deserves it," Burnett said.

"In the record books I'll always be his trainer and he gave us so many great memories.

"He'll go down as one of the greats. For me now that's all that matters."