Jon McBurney is hoping to bow out of training in Australia in a blaze of glory with his final runner, Ten To Countdown, in the Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast today.
McBurney, 31, has dispersed his small New South Wales stable at Wyong to headback to his former homeland of New Zealand in two months to train at either Hamilton or Cambridge.
Ten To Countdown will be McBurney's last Australian runner when he contests the 1400m feature before he heads for a spell and ultimately a new stable.
McBurney denied speculation he had planned to return to New Zealand to take up a position as Graeme Rogerson's assistant before Gold Coast trainer Garry Newham was appointed last Sunday.
"That was all news to me. I heard those stories but I was never approached and I've never met Graeme Rogerson," McBurney said.
"The first I heard about it was on Sunday when I was watching TV but I wouldn't take up a position like that."
McBurney worked for eight years as foreman for his father, well known Wyong trainer Neville McBurney, before taking out a trainer's licence four years ago.
"I'm a Kiwi but I've lived here on and off for 20 years and I want to go back to New Zealand in a couple of months to train," he said.
"I like it over there. It's quieter and not as hectic as here.
"I was foreman for dad for about eight years but when I lived in New Zealand I worked for Brian Smith when he trained there and for Tony Cole for a couple of years."
McBurney has booked Scott Galloway to ride Ten To Countdown who tried valiantly to lead all the way for John Powell when second to Roman Squire in the Tatts Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
"He dropped a lot in weight last run so his performance didn't surprise me," McBurney said.
The Sunshine Coast track was rated heavy yesterday but McBurney wasn't too concerned.
"He's won three times on slow tracks and ran second on a heavy track but I think he's better off on firmer ground," he said. "I think he's a good chance in this race but it will depend how wet it is."
