Written by Carl Di Iorio for racing.com
There’s no doubt what part of Victoria in-form mare Picaroon is flying the flag for as she vies for the honour of being this season’s Country Racing Victoria Horse of the Year.
The rising seven-year-old is trained at Warrnambool by Tom Dabernig, while her owner Richard White is also from the famous racing town.
“He’s got a dental practice here and he bred her and owns her a hundred per cent,” Dabernig said.
“He’s been getting a good buzz, he’s been at all the races, he loves getting to all those country meets and things.”
Picaroon spent most of her career under the care of Michael O’Leary before circumstances led to her joining Dabernig’s yard.
“She went to stud and then she didn’t get in foal, that’s how she ended up with me, we put her back into work,” Dabernig explained.
“Since then, I think he (White) just feels lucky, because she’s notched up a bit of prizemoney for him too. He doesn’t do it for that, he’s a real horse and breeding lover, so I think he gets a kick out of that more than the money, but it’s worked out very well for him.”
Under Dabernig’s training, Picaroon has racked up four wins this season, highlighted by her success in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final in the spring and then the Casterton and Apsley Cups at her most recent outings.
“Her confidence is up and probably getting her to 2000m has been the key,” her trainer explained.
“She’s by Fiorente and she’d never really run past a mile prior to me getting her and then obviously in the spring, she won the country trainers race at Flemington.
“Her first couple of runs back were probably a bit plain and to me, she was looking like she’d lost a bit of acceleration, so I thought we’d try her up in distance and over 2000m she’s been able to quicken in those country cups and looks like she’s got a bit of that turn of foot back.”
This weekend, Picaroon will be chasing her third-successive win when she comes to the big smoke to run in the Become an MRC Member Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
“She’s drawn well and she should get a nice, soft run,” Dabernig said.
“It’s not easy to get them winning three in a row; the races she’s won, those country cups, she’s probably been quite well in them and now she’s going to carry the weight, so I guess there’s a few little question marks there, but she looks like she’s held her form well, she’s been perfect, the three weeks between runs, I’d expect her to run well again.
“Then maybe, a bit beyond this run, we might even try her at a mile-and-a-half if she runs a good, honest race again, that might be something we try at her next start.”
After guiding her to her country cup wins, Tom Madden will retain the ride on Picaroon this weekend.
Sportsbet has Picaroon at $18 for the third event from Caulfield on Saturday.