Tom Dabernig celebrates biggest win since leaving Lindsay Park as Picaroon lands Country Final at Flemington

Tom Dabernig landed his biggest win since becoming a solo trainer in the Country Final at Flemington with a mare bred who was unable to get in foal.

Picaroon bursts through the pack to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final at Flemington on Thursday. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

A home-bred mare who is still racing only because she was unable to get in foal provided a lucrative payday for owner Dr Richard White and her trainer Tom Dabernig after Picaroon held on to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m).

Having her 21st start, Picaroon ($8) more than doubled her career prizemoney when she staved off the fast-finishing Euphoric ($4.40 equal favourite) with Lady Jones ($8) in third place to take home the $275,000 cheque for winning.

Dabernig said it was a special thrill to win a race on Oaks day, given his small team at Warrnambool, having decided to leave Lindsay Park and go out on his own in 2021.

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“We don’t do it for the money but I must say it does come in handy,” Dabernig said.

“We’re just a small country stable now and we’re enjoying what we do. My kids are involved, my wife and her parents, it’s a big team effort.

“Richard White the owner, he’s a local dentist in Warrnambool and he bred the horse as well. He sent her to stud to get her in foal and that is how she ended up with me.”

Textbook from @blake_shinn 📚

A wonderful victory for trainer Tom Dabernig to win the Melbourne Cup Country Final with PICAROON.

📽 @10SportAU | #OaksDaypic.twitter.com/SlnaprGPvE

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2023

Dabernig said the country series was “a great incentive”, saying: “I think there should be more of it … even the heats, it is hard to get in the race.

“It was a big field and well contested.”

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He praised Blake Shinn, who brought up a double with the win, for his ride on Picaroon, who is a daughter of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.

The horse will now target a Group 3 race over 1600m at Sandown, looking to get some black-type to her name.

“They’re not easy to win these big ones because a lot of them are targeted for this race but fortunately we got the luck on the day,” Shinn said.

“It’s a great week to be involved in and it’s just nice to get a couple of winners and especially in this race, it’s for the country trainers and it’s worth great money.

“Tom Dabernig is a great bloke, (he) prepped this horse really well, and targeted the race.

“She had to be brave, the leader kicked strong and put up a good fight but what I loved, she put her ears back and wanted to win and that’s what got over the line, her determination.

“When the chips were down she really wanted to win.”

Red Roses: Freedman plots autumn straight assault with Mumbai

Talented filly Mumbai Muse could be headed back to Flemington next autumn to chase some of the rich races down the straight after storming home to win the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m).

Trainer Michael Freedman conceded he had his heart in his mouth when the daughter of Zoustar was slowly away from the outside and well out the back for the first half of the race.

But Tommy Berry – who says he feels as fit as he ever has since his recent return from suspension – was able to pilot his way down the outside to charge at the line.

The win provided part-owner Debbie Kepitis with another Flemington Carnival success this year after her victory with Riff Rocket in last Saturday’s Victoria Derby.

She loves the straight!

MUMBAI MUSE wins the Bachelor’s Red Roses Stakes for the three-year-old filly sprinters.

📽 @10SportAU | #OaksDaypic.twitter.com/jLu7Iy6lta

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2023

“I was a little concerned mid-race how far back Tommy was,” Freedman said.

“When she got to the outside I could see that she was going to feature in it somehow. I wasn’t quite sure whether she was going to get up.

“She’s mixed it with the best fillies in Sydney at her two starts this preparation. She beat the colts in the (Listed) Brian Crowley (at Randwick) and she won a really nice race here.”

Mumbai Muse was easy in the betting, drifting out to $7.50, but she was able to run down Saltaire ($6.50 equal favourite) with Appin Girl ($17) finishing third.

She will go to the paddock with Freedman keen to map out an ambitious program for the autumn.

“I think essentially she’s a sprinting type filly so we’ll have a look at what is coming up,” he said.

“It might be worth bringing her back for something up the straight.”

Originally published as Tom Dabernig celebrates biggest win since leaving Lindsay Park as Picaroon lands Country Final at Flemington