Bourke hopeful of more winners after series of health battles

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tom Bourke has overcome a series of health scares in recent times and is now hoping to do what he does best – train winners.

The 70-year-old Bourke heads to Callaghan Park in his hometown of Rockhampton on Tuesday with two starters – Dubious Authority in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap and It’s Gerry in the Open Handicap.

Bourke has only one other horse in work, which he’ll leave in his stable, and is hopeful It’s Gerry can live up to his Brisbane form when the gelding makes his stable debut.

A four-year-old son of Better Than Ready, It’s Gerry only arrived in Bourke’s stable just over a week ago after having five starts for Eagle Farm trainer Barry Lockwood.

It’s Gerry started his career winning four times for trainer Tom Smith in Rockhampton before his owners sent him to Lockwood in the hope he’d measure up in the south.

Under Lockwood, It’s Gerry won an 1100 metre Class 5 Handicap at Ipswich in February before he returned to Central Queensland following his last start fourth over 1050 meters at Toowoomba on April 27.

“He didn’t run up the hill at Toowoomba so his owners sent him back here to me,” Bourke said.

“I’ve only had him a week and I haven’t been able to do much with him but he came here in good order from Barry’s.

“On his form in Brisbane he should be suited around this area and I think he’ll be competitive in this race.”

Bourke started his training career as a 20-year-old at Armidale in NSW before moving briefly to Sydney.

“I went to Sydney for a while to train but I mainly did breaking in,” Bourke said.

“Then I moved to Grafton when I got a job as a private trainer there before I moved back to Rocky.

“After that, I moved to Caloundra and stayed there for a few years and I’ve been back in Rocky now for about two years.”

Bourke’s decision to relocate to the Sunshine Coast came after he acquired his best horse, Rocky King, who won 17 races and more than $600,000 in prize money.

Rocky King was rated highly enough by Bourke who sent him to Melbourne in the spring of 2014 for two starts.

Bourke suffered a stroke in 2017 and the following year beat a bout of prostate cancer.

“I had the stroke in 2017 but I only lost the use of a few fingers so I kept training,” Bourke said.

"Then the following year I got the double with prostate cancer but I had it removed and everything is good now.”

However, Bourke thought he was over his health problems until one day last year he collapsed.

“Last year I collapsed and broke five ribs and punctured a lung,” he said.

“I had just finished at the jump outs and was getting ready to go into a lift when I collapsed.

“Luckily a girl was coming out for a cigarette and helped me.

”I’m all good again now but I’m using up those nine lives a cat has.”

The trainer has booked apprentice jockey's for both of his starters on Tuesday: Dubious Authority - Melea Castle and It's Gerry - Brooke Johnson.