It was a family effort to get Military Bay to Picnic Championships Final and on Saturday it was a family celebration as the tough-as-nails gelding took out the $50,000 feature at Dubbo Turf Club.
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The victory in the 1400m final was a fitting reward as Military Bay had finished top of the series after winning at Bedgerabong, Condobolin, Nyngan, and Gunnedah this year.
Military Bay is trained by Mark Schmetzer at Scone at and Dubbo on Sunday it was again his wife, Tammy, who was the strapper and her brother, Ashley Boyd, in the saddle.
"We've had this as the plan for awhile," Boyd said.
"The question was whether he could get the 1400 but you never know unless you try, and we did it today.
"Full credit to the horse, he did a great job getting there, and full credit to Mark and Tammy as well because they've done a great job with the horse."
Now in its fourth year, the Picnic Championship involves gallopers vying for points around the picnic circuit.
The top point-getters for the year secure a spot in the $50,000 final and the 2020 series was all about Military Bay.
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The distance was the one query heading into Sunday, with Military Bay having never stretched out that far in his 27-start career.
"Mark said if he was ever going to get to 1400 it would be at the end of his prep so luckily Mark knows what he's talking about," Boyd laughed.
Military Bay started the race on the second line of betting at $6.50 with Rodney Robb, a two-time winner of the series, having the $1.85 favourite in the form of Rogue Runner.
After a strong third at Mudgee last time out all eyes were on Rogue Runner and when he entered the straight in third the stage seemed set for him to go on with the job.
But Military Bay had got to the lead from Policy ($8.50) at the top of the straight and showed real strength to drive to the line and and win by two-and-three-quarter lengths from Another Plan ($14) while Rogue Runner was third.
Boyd praised the series and said the quality of picnic racing had increased since its inception.
"There's a lot more horses and a lot more quality horses as well at the picnics," he said.
"They all see this series and can get a bit of prize money out of it so it's a good initiative."
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
