Bobby’s Secret. Image: Racing Photography.
Stable stalwart Bobby’s Secret will get his chance at picnic racing glory on Sunday when he contests the $50,000 Picnic Sprint Championships at Dubbo Turf Club.
The eight-year-old Bobby’s Kitten gelding - a six-time winner - snuck into the final without winning a picnic race in 2025/26.
The old stager finished second in the Condobolin and Tottenham Picnic Cups earlier this year before finishing down the track in the Grenfell Picnic Cup in April.
Despite this, he earned just enough points to gain a start in the rich picnic sprint event, where he has drawn kindly in gate three and has attracted the services of amateur jockey Michael Gray.
“We kind of had high hopes of getting a start but weren’t positive with all the dramas we’ve had with him,” Forbes trainer Melissa Harrison said.
"It looks a good race to us and it’s probably the easiest race he’s met in a while.
“From the good draw, he should be able to camp in behind them, but with Bobby, we’ll let him race where he is happy; he knows his way around the track.”
Bobby’s Secret, seemingly better suited over a bit more ground later in his career, went enormous first-up at Wellington on September 15, running third in the 900m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Second-up, over five furlongs and on the big Dubbo straight, Harrison is confident the Forbes galloper can run a big race.
“It was very leader-biased at Wellington that day, so it was a super run,” Harrison said.
“He’s going well and it just looks a nice race for him. Plus, what a great initiative; a $50,000 race for picnic horses.”
While the stable is excited ahead of Sunday’s big race at Dubbo, Harrison’s immediate attention is on Saturday’s Grenfell Cup meeting, where she has Pattera and Kelilah racing.
Pattera will have stable apprentice Jess Del Frari in the saddle when contesting the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap, and Ash McCabe will be aboard Kelilah in The Loaded Dog ; a 1400m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Stable owner Danny Kotel is based in Grenfell, and the Harrison Racing Team always targets the meeting with suitable horses.
“We always try to support the meeting and take one of Danny’s horses and try to win a race,” Harrison said.
"Pattera should go well; we’ll try and lead. He has gone there before and was beaten a nose, so we know he likes the track and he gets in better at the weights.
“With Kelilah, who knows what she will do. She is nice and fresh and should like Grenfell, and on her day, she is a much better horse, but we’ll see if she turns up.”