Stepping back in grade at Ardlethan on Saturday, Michael Travers will be hopeful that Freud can win the time-honoured Ardlethan Picnic Cup.
A two-time winner, having spent most of his career on the TAB circuit, the 5YO So You Think gelding will be heading to the picnics for the first time.
Last time out at Berrigan, the Wagga galloper finished strongly to run second in the 1600m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Tomorrow, Travers will call upon in-form amateur jockey, Dylan Parrott, who’s fresh off riding doubles at Yass in late February and Crookwell on Saturday.
“Freud is definitely a good chance,” Parrott said.
“I’ve watched his last runs, and saw he gets back and gets going, and hopefully at Ardlethan he can do that, and we run over them late.
“It’s pretty typical at the picnics for there to be speed, and a lot of the time they go quick up front, and that helps us backmarkers find some rhythm and run into the race.”
Condobolin Picnic Cup winner, Pickaxe, which finished third in the recent Tottenham Picnic Cup, looks the horse to beat.
Trained out of Dubbo by Connie Greig, Pickaxe will have the red-hot Ash Boyd in the saddle, who’s riding at a 44% win rate after picking up 10.5 wins in 2025/26.
“Pickaxe also goes back and storms home, and it was probably unlucky not to win last start after it found a bit of trouble,” Parrott said.
“It’s definitely the horse to beat.”
Parrott and Travers have good chances on the Southern Districts program.
The pair team up with Jessie Doll in the 1000m Open Trophy Race, while Travers also has Girl Scout (Leandro Ribeiro) in the 1200m Maiden Plate and Teresprit (Michael Gray) in the 1200m Class Three Trophy Handicap.
Parrott will team up with the Anthony Craig-trained Elisa in the 1200m Maiden Plate, Jamie Gibbons-trained True Prophet in the 1200m Class Three Trophy Handicap, and the Rob Wellington-trained Inagurate in the 1600m Class One Trophy Handicap.
“I’ve got a good chance in the cup, and the Jamie Gibbins-trained True Prophet is a good chance as well,” Parrott said.
The amateur hoop has been riding well, and he said he’s never felt better in the saddle, as he’s finally over niggling injuries.
“I had a bit of time off last year, and didn’t ride a huge amount, because when I was riding, I was riding injured,” Parrott said.
“I’ve come back and feel better. I’m clearer-minded and feeling good on the horses, and hopefully I can continue the good form.”
There will be a big crowd at Ardlethan on Saturday, with racing returning to the track following important upgrades.
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