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With more than a little help from his friends nurturing flying filly Knight Driver, young Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm is upbeat at value as a TAB Highway prizemoney increase to $100,000 kicks in at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Knight Driver ($8 into $6.50 on TAB), a Dream Ahead (USA) protégé, is attempting four successive wins into a TAB Class 3, 1100m dash that has attracted a compelling blend of exciting newcomers and established Highway performers.
Agreed by most contenders as being as tough and open as it ever gets in the series, a significant booking for the filly is Kerrin Mcevoy at 54kg in a race that contains four Highway winners, multiple recent successes and dominant Highway trainers.
Meanwhile, outback racing icon Rodney Robb, a close friend of the Clint Lundholm family over decades, trained Knight Driver for a Wellington maiden win back in September while Clint was suspended.
For months Robb relocated from Nyngan to Dubbo to take over Clint's substantial numbers.
Rodney postponed his annual racing and camping holiday to the outback picnics to help Clint stay operative and accommodate his many owners.
"It's what we do out here," offered Brett Robb at the time, Rodney's son and training partner. Saturday's episode again attracted capacity nominations and acceptances and four emergencies.
"It's as hot a Highway as I've seen, but she's pretty smart - you've got to have a crack at that level of prizemoney while they're eligible," Clint said.
"She's got upside a will to win and when they've put three together, you don't die wondering. Something she beat has won well since, so the form is solid around us.
"She's racing older and more experienced sprinters but she's flying and thrives in soft going. So we're hoping it stays in that range.
" But I'm still trying to finalise what we can and can't do with travelling. I've got a lot of runners at the regionals up here over the next week." Maximum COVID security measures have resumed throughout the industry.
Meanwhile, Lundholm has rebounded from suspension, a wiser young man to be amidst his most successful season yet (28 wins) and he remains grateful for the level of support from the Robbs.
Clint has doubled his numbers since his comeback in May. In Saturday's wide betting race, Newhaven Park Country Championships contenders and Highway winners, Hellenism ($4.60 favourite), Anethole ($6), and fourth emergency Private Agent ($6) head the market.
And Scott Singleton has a similar degree of confidence with promising dual Scone winner Lady River ($13) as Clint has with Knight Driver.
At present 'The Gardens' remains a Heavy 8 in overcast weather after last week's meeting was transferred from Royal Randwick.
