The horse bounded to the front under rider Samantha Wynne and never gave his rivals a chance.
Plutonium, bought by Burns in an online auction, was having his first start with him.
The win gave Burns a boost after he was laid up in hospital following a minor operation.
''I only got out of hospital on Sunday,'' he said.
Plutonium was going to head to the spelling paddock, but a fellow Wingatui trainer stepped in to help.
''Graeme Mee has been a big help . . . Graeme and I are the two oldest dudes out here at the track.
''I ride him three times a week and he rides three times a week,'' Burns said.
Plutonium had shown considerable ability.
''The horse has just shown that much since I have had him I couldn't see him getting beaten.''
Wynne did not plan to put a gap of seven lengths on Plutonium's rivals in the middle stages. But those tactics not only worked, they made for a spectacular contest.
''He has a very high cruising [speed] and a very long stride,'' she said.
''At the 800m I actually tried to give him a little breather and asked him to ease back so he was just travelling nicely.''
Approaching the straight, Wynne asked for maximum effort and Plutonium did not disappoint.
''I actually couldn't hear them coming behind me so I had a little look around and gave him the task up the straight and he held on nicely.''
The 2017-18 edition of the Otago summer racing circuit began exactly as it did last year, with a Wynne victory on Montoya Star who emerged out of the field with a big finish to win over 1600m.
Last year Montoya Star went on to score at the Kurow meeting and won again at Trentham in premier company. This year she will go straight to Trentham for the $40,000 Duoro Cup (1600m) on January 20, Wellington Cup day.
Three riders came off their mounts during yesterday's meeting.
Terry Moseley was taken to Dunedin Hospital after he fell from Troy Boy who shied in the home straight during race 4. Moseley will miss the meeting at Timaru tomorrow and needs a medical clearance before he resumes.
In race 8, Krish Gundowry fell from Queen Serene and Gosen Jogoo fell from Tenfold at the top of the straight. They were uninjured.
