1 June 2018
HARNESS MEDIA CENTRE NEWS | AMANDA RANDO
HE recently retired one of his best horses and now Bigga horseman Dennis Picker is focusing on his new crop coming through.
This includes the likes of Ally Rogan which qualified for a Alabar Breeders Challenge Semi Final following a heat win at Bathurst last Wednesday week.
The two-year-old filly by Pet Rock has won four of her seven starts and has a bright future according to her 32-year-old trainer.
“She’s doing a great job,” Picker said.
“She didn’t have a lot of working going into that Breeders Challenge heat which could probably tell but she will be better for the Semi Final.”
Another filly in Picker’s care that he has an opinion of is Gone Way Back who is scheduled to have her second race start at Canberra on Monday night.
The three-year-old finished third on debut at Bathurst On May 16 and was only beaten a length in a mile rate of 1:57.3.
“I really like her,” Picked stated.
“She’s a latecomer but she went really well at her first start and has a lot of promise.”
Along with Gone Way Back, Picker will also be taking Machgower to Canberra on Monday night.
The gelding won three starts back and has faced some unlucky runs since.
“He was unlucky at Canberra last start,” Picker said.
“Blake (Hewitt) drove him and they ran into a bit of trouble and Blake said he would have gone really well if that didn’t happen.”
Picker will also be taking Fastestgirlintown to Canberra on Monday.
The mare has been unplaced in her two starts back from a spell this preparation.
“She has found a competitive race,” Picker said.
“She’s been working at home OK so hopefully she can turn her form around.”
One horse Picker will not be loading onto the float to take to the races anymore is multiple winner Condagen.
Connections of the son of Ifihadyourluck decided to pull the pin on his racing career following his ninth-placed effort at Menangle on April 7.
“It will take me a while to find one as good as him,” Picker said.
“He was a great horse to me . . . he is one of the most consistent horses I’ve had, he won a lot of bush cup races, and he’s definitely the fastest horse I’ve had.
“His owner Pat Bourke passed away but his wife Tina now has Condagen in their front paddock.”
The nine-year-old bowed out of racing with a record of 24 wins and 33 placings in 146 starts and earnings of $313,243.
He also rated a personal best 1:51.7 when wining the Group 3 Vic Frost Cup.