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Dubbo trainer Connie Greig is forecast to play a leading role at the Bedgerabong picnic meeting on Saturday with nominations for most races including representation in the $11,000 Total Wear Solutions Bedgerabong Picnic Cup over 1400m.
Greig was dominant on the picnic circuit last season and won the NSW Trainers' Premiership along with the $50,000 NSW Picnic Champions Series FInal with Inzaghi at Coonamble.
Brazilian-born Leandro Ribeiro rode the majority of the Greig-trained winners and is expected to be closely followed by punters at Bedgerabong.
In 2022 Connie Greig won the Cup with Valadyium and last year had a winning double with Get Up Alby and Benyatta.
Her 2024 Cup nominations are prolific Picnic Cups winner Gossip and proven TAB track performer Linden Tree.
Fellow Dubbo trainer M R Mulholland has the class gallopers in the Cup but both have received imposing handicaps:Reward Seeker (77.5 kg) and Cheptegei (77kg) and if declared starters would need to establish new weight carrying records for a Cup winner.
Racing exclusively at professional TAB meetings, Reward Seeker has won the 2020 Orange Cup, 2021 Wellington Cup , 2023 Quirindi Cup and finished second in the 2021 Forbes Cup and second in the 2021 Dubbo Cup, while Cheptegei won the 2023 Gilgandra Cup.
Legendary trainer Rodney Robb from Nyngan who has won the Bedgerabong Picnic Cup with Azarax (2014), Security Code (2017) and Lulu's Destiny (2018) has nominated Red Impulse and Richter this year.
Others nominated with reasonably good form include the John Rolfe, Canberra-trained Captain Corelli and Neidr Dawn trained at Parkes by Sharon Jeffries.
Billy Bent Ear, the galloper with a sizeable fan club, resumes from a spell in the feature sprint, the 800m Clearview Bracelet Handicap.
His lopsided ear has proved no hindrance to Billy Bent Ear and the now 11yo gelding has been a marvellous performer for trainer Connie Greig and has the remarkable record of 16 wins and 39 placings from 142 starts and prizemoney earnings of $256,725.
Speedsters likely to oppose Billy Bent Ear in the Bracelet include the proven TAB track performer So Extra from the Clint Lundholm stable at Dubbo and Mr Pointer trained at Cobar by Wayne Prisk.
Recognised as one of the prettiest and best presented racecourses in NSW, Bedgerabong will attract a crowd limited to about 2,500 with entry by ticket only, booked through the Facebook page - Bedgerabong Picnic Races
Final acceptances for the six races are to be declared by 9am on Thursday - Bedgerabong Races
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