By Mark Brassel
Former Novocastrian galloper Tupou has come out of the woodwork to be a contender for the 2024 NSW Picnic Champion Series after a narrow victory at Bedgerabong.
Tupou, now with the Clint Lundholm stable at Dubbo, won Saturday’s Total Wear Solutions Australia Bedgerabong Picnic Cup (1400m) by a short head.
The six-year-old had been unplaced in all seven starts since heading to Dubbo but completely turned his form around under the encouragment of Ricky Blewitt.
Starting as one of the outsiders in the eight-horse field at $7, the gelding edged out Linden Tree (Leandro Ribeiro, $5.50) with Red Impulse (Maddison Wright, $3.20) half a neck away in third place.
Tupou picked up 10 points for his efforts and moves into equal ninth spot in the 2024 NSW Picnic Champion Series point score.
The Natalie Jarvis, Moruya-trained California August is the leader on 24 points ahead of the Debbie Prest, Cowra-trained Blinkin Nomore (15 points).
The next chance to earn points will be at CONDOBOLIN PICNICS on Saturday (17th February).
PICNIC SERIES POINT SCORE
24 – California August
15 – Blinkin Nomore
14 – Merdeka, Steady Jam
13 – Foxtorm
12 – Dishy’s
11 – Captain Corelli, Real Salty
10 – Benyatta, Eliseo, Hamish the Swift, Inzaghi, Jin Chi Phantom, Tupou
For all the latest info (including Points Table & Honour Roll) on the Series click here – 2024 NSW Picnic Champion Series
