Dabernig Pics up Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final win
Picaroon scored an unlikely win for Warrnambool in the rich Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final at Flemington on Thursday.
The six-year-old daughter of Fiorente is only in work after failing to get in-foal and she lasted in a driving go to score a narrow win in the $500,000 event.
It was the richest win for trainer Tom Dabernig since leaving Lindsay Park and going out on his own and he thanked both Picaroon’s owner Dr Richard White and former trainer Michael O’Leary for their efforts.
“Richard sent her to stud to get her in-foal (but she missed) and that is how she ended up with me,” Dabernig said.
“I must thank Michael O’Leary. She came to me in great order, we’ve just guided her along the way and she’s done all the hard work.”
The Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series consists of $100,000 heats run at Country Cup meetings throughout the Spring Carnival and is for trainers who did not have more than 15 winners last season.
Picaroon finished fourth in the heat run at Murtoa on October 7 before winning the event run at Hamilton seven days later.
The $8 chance relished a sweet ride from Melbourne’s premier rider Blake Shinn, who himself as country origins, being brought up in Kilmore, and had to work hard to reel in leader Soaring Eagle before then having to stave off a late charge from $4.40 equal favourite Euphoric.
At the line Picaroon had a long-head to spare over Euphoric, who finished a head clear of Lady Jones($8).
“This race is for the country trainers and it’s worth great money and Tom Dabernig is a great bloke, has prepped this horse really well and targeted the race,” Shinn said.
“They’re not easy to win these big ones because a lot of them are targeted to this race but fortunately we got the luck on the day.”
With the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final winner’s cheque secured, Dabernig said the objective could now be to try and secure some Black Type for Picaroon before another crack at motherhood.
“It’s not the end of the carnival now that they’ve extended it, there’s a Group Three mares’ race over a mile at Sandown, and that’d be good to get a little bit of black type,” Dabernig said.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...