The Picnic Championships are an event that always draws a number of dedicated hopefuls and no one understands the twists and turns of a successful attempt better than Rodney Robb.
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The veteran trainer has stepped back from the majority of his work these days, but he still could have three chances in one of Sunday's feature events at Dubbo Turf Club.
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Rogue Runner and Drummed Out secured places in the $50,000 final while Policy is the first emergency.
While Drummed Out and Policy have both taken wins in their most recent spread of starts, it'll be Rogue Runner who'll likely shape as a favourite when the time comes to open the betting lines.
"I'm looking forward to Sunday, it'll be a pretty big day for Dubbo," Robb said.
"Rogue Runner's had two runs back from his most recent spell and they've been very good, I spelled him last time after he had that last disappointing campaign, he just didn't come up properly, but he's been a lot better this time out, they've all been very good actually, I'm really looking forward to it."
After running third in the Sprint Prelude at Dubbo two starts back Rogue Runner won at Mudgee last time out. Clayton Gallagher rode in those events but with Sunday's race purely for those who ride on the picnic circuit it's Maddison Wright who will be in the saddle.
Wright and Rogue Runner scored a second place finish in Forbes earlier in the year and Robb expects the partnership to turn in another strong performance on Sunday.
"She's had a lot of luck for the stable, she's rode him a lot of times too, she's been very good around the picnics, for a number of years, she's a very good, strong rider," Robb said.
If there's any cause for concern for Robb and his crew, it's the length of the race, with Rogue Runner yet to score a win over the 1400m distance the Picnic Championships will be contested at.
"He hasn't won yet across that distance, and a few people have said he won't be able to run the 1400m, but there's a lot that say that and there's a lot that say the opposite," Robb said.
"You never know what's going to happen until you get in there and try, anything can happen in a race."
Robb says that winning the championships again would be something he'd 'dearly love', and getting Rogue Runner ready for it has been a long-term goal.
"I had picked the race out for him a long time ago, it's been pretty much his main aim for the last six months or so, we'll know on Sunday if it's all been worthwhile or not."
The Picnic Championship Final will jump at 2.30pm on Sunday.
