Dubbo trainer Peter Reynolds is hoping Isaah Yeo's good fortunes extend for another week as he prepares for Sunday's $50,000 Picnic Championship Final.
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NRL premiership winner Yeo is an owner of Drummed Out, one of two horses Reynolds will have in the feature final at Coonamble.
Drummed Out and stablemate Nevada Sunrise, the only two horses Reynolds has, will both run in Sunday's event after proving to be among the 12 best gallopers in the picnic circuit in the past year.
Nine-year-old veteran Drummed Out may now be at veteran status and approaching 100 starts but Reynolds is hoping for one more big effort on Sunday before he heads to the paddock for a well-deserved spell.
"They're both getting towards the end of their campaigns so I'm just hoping they can put one more good run in on the day," he said.
"He (Drummed Out) has got to an age where he just thinks about it too much. If he thinks he can win he will but if he doesn't think he can, he doesn't.
"I've just got to try and make him happy on the day."
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Reynolds is in Drummed Out's ownership alongside his son, Jordan, and a number of his mates.
Yeo is among them, with Dubbo CYMS players Ben Marlin and Billy Sing, and Reynolds is hoping Drummed Out can muster up some of the determination and desire the Panthers co-captain showed in Sunday's grand final win over the Rabbitohs in the feature race.
"I hope his luck continues," Reynolds laughed.
"They're young fellas and they're keen and love the social side of it. It's been a bit hard with COVID and they can't be there again (on Sunday) but they're all good close mates.
"They're thick as thieves and we all enjoy it."
Drummed Out ran eighth in last year's Picnic Championship Final and was the top point-scorer in the series in 2020/21.
He's been a consistent performer for Reynolds and despite so much time on the picnic and non-TAB circuit, he has earned more than $135,000 in prizemoney.
He heads towards the final having not won since a run of two victories and a second in three starts in February and March while Nevada Sunrise, part owned by Reynolds' other son Madison, also hasn't won since February.
"All his (Nevada Sunrise's) speed is early," Reynolds said.
"He's got to be somewhere early because at the end he just plods. I wish it was the other way and he'd start steady and finish stronger but he goes very hard early.
"You've just got to hope he hangs on towards the end."
Reynolds is savouring the chance to be part of the final with his only two horses as much of his time is dedicated to his Tophut equine rehabilitation and pre-training business.
"I enjoy the picnics because I work full-time and the picnics are usually on a Saturday so that frees me up," he said.
"We just enjoy. There's a car-load of boys and we enjoy the day out."
Up-and-coming jockey Breanna Bourke will ride Nevada Sunrise on Sunday while Reynolds' regular jockey Michael Johnston will pilot Drummed Out.
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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.
