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
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...
War Machine back in winning form at Caulfield
A great deal has transpired for War Machine over the past twelve months.On the equivalent weekend last year, the horse trained by Ben, Will, and Jd Hayes, War Machine, was competing in Sydney for The Everest.While the results didn't align with the Lindsay Park trainers' aspirations, War Machine had entered...
Saintly Dancer's Thousand Guineas triumph highlights Shinn's comeback
Jockey Blake Shinn has celebrated his first Group 1 win since recovering from a significant leg injury, as Saintly Dancer dictated terms from the front to capture the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.Shinn endured a fractured leg from a fall during last year's Melbourne Cup and made his return to competitive...