Image – Bradley Photos.
Rob Potter believes he has the horse to beat in Sunday’s $50,000 NSW Picnic Champion Series final (1400) at Coonamble after Madison Point drew perfectly with gate two.
The nine-year-old Canberra galloper has been racing in good form since resuming from a 14-week let-up, finishing third in the Trangie Picnic Cup (1400m) in July before running fourth, beaten 3.5 lengths in a 1280m Benchmark 55 Handicap on the Canberra Acton earlier last month.
His most recent effort was a third in the 1400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Gundagai on September 10, with the Savabeel gelding beaten by the in-form Blessed Award and subsequent two-time winner, Magical Slipper.
“The horse is flying,” Potter said.
“His last run was outstanding against a horse that has won again; he was beaten a length on a heavy ten, so the race has some pretty solid form.
“His prior run at Canberra was good, and if he gets out at the 500m, he probably wins.
“At Trangie, he was first-up after only six weeks work, and I only took him because he needed to run top-three to get into the final, and he finished third.
“Still, it was a good run, and the track was rock-hard, and he was 12 lengths back, but he ran well to come third.”
Madison Point has been around the NSW picnic scene since 2021, and he raced in the final that season, finishing ninth to the Brett Robb-trained On A Promise.
To qualify for this year’s final, the old stager won the 2023 Yass Picnic Cup (1350m) in February before running second to Namarari in the Crookwell Picnic Cup (1400m) in March and second to Our Blue Moon in the Grenfell Picnic Cup in April.
Raced by Potter and his good mate and fellow Canberra trainer, Gratz Vella, connections have chosen to target the picnics with him, and they couldn’t be happier with how he is travelling.
“I honestly believe he is going the best he’s ever gone,” Potter said.
“I’ve had him for three years, and I believe he is at his best. He looks magnificent, he’s bouncing around, and I can’t fault him.
On Thursday, the Coonamble racecourse was deemed a heavy eight, but the rating is expected to improve with a drying weather forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Potter wasn’t concerned either way.
“Normally, he is better on a dry track, but it’s made no difference lately,” Potter said.
“This prep, he’s raced on a firm one at Trangie, a synthetic at Canberra, and a heavy ten at Gundagai, and they have all been good runs.
“Plus, he is getting a little older, and the softer tracks probably suit him a little more than they once did, so it should be fine.”
Ricky Blewitt was down to ride Madison Point, but the veteran jockey will instead team up with his partner when riding the Kylie Kennedy-trained Our Blue Moon.
Instead, Potter has opted for the in-form Sebastian Galea after the 17-year-old won four races at Mungery on Sunday.
“I’ve got no issues using young Sebastian; he’s riding really well at the moment,” Potter said.
“It’s a pretty good recipe; the horse is in form, the jockey is in form, and the trainer is in form; you couldn’t ask for much else.”
In terms of the horse to beat, Potter believes NSW picnics legend Rodney Robb and his charge Sons of Bourke will be their biggest danger.
“Rodney’s horse, Sons of Bourke, is the horse to beat, and out of Connie’s horse, Blackhill Kitty will be hard to beat,” Potter said.
“Our Blue Moon for Kylie deserves a mention; it ran a good second the other day, and with Ricky (Blewitt) on it, it can run a good race.”
The NSW Picnic Champion Series final will complement a big day of racing at Coonamble, with the meeting to include the $75,000 Coonamble Cup (1600m) and $37,000 Coonamble Crystal Sprint (1200m).
For more on the NSW Picnic Champion Series final, click here.
For Coonamble fields, click here.
