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By Colin Hodges

The picnic meeting at COBAR this Saturday has added importance being the last chance for owners and trainers to earn points with their horses in the race to qualify for the rich NSW Picnic Champion Series Final.

The race is scheduled for Sunday 28th September at Dubbo Racecourse.

Blackhill Kitty - leads the NSW Picnic Champion Series points score. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Prior to this year a $50,000 Final was held over 1400m, however, a $50,000 Final over 1000m will also be run on the same day at Dubbo in 2025.

The total prize pool for the Finals of $100,000 has further increased interest and competition over the statewide picnic circuit.

It all began with Geurie back in September 2024 and has taken in 25 meetings prior to Cobar.

Points are allocated on a sliding scale with the highest being for Cup races down to the lower class restricted races.

With 12 starters plus emergencies for each of the Finals and some horses being turned out for spells or for other reasons, there is likely to be changes in the qualifiers after the Cobar meeting on Saturday and before the Finals at Dubbo.

To view the current leading point scorers for the NSW Picnic Champion Series - CLICK HERE

MILESTONE ON FORBES CUP DAY

On Sunday, Bankstown Sports Club will bring up 30 years as major sponsor of the Forbes Jockey Club Cup meeting.

Well over 100 members of the Bankstown club will spend three days in Forbes enjoying a range of events highlighted by the Cup Calcutta at Club Forbes on Saturday night and the Forbes Cup on Sunday.

Carrying $50,000 prizemoney the 1600m Forbes Cup is an eligibility race for the $3m Big Dance at Randwick in November.

Following Forbes will be Louth on Saturday 9th August and Dubbo on Sunday 10th August.

HEAGNEY'S ON THE MOVE

Much-travelled jockey Michael Heagney who has ridden over 1000 winners is currently riding in Western Australia and on Saturday won the $50,000 Roebourne Cup, the premier event in the Pilbara region.

Heagney (58) has ridden in all States of Australia including tracks right around NSW and more recently was based at Cowra before doing a lot of riding for Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown.

Most years he heads to Western Australia and follows the Pilbara and Kimberley circuit where clubs race mainly over the cooler months from May to August.

During the current trip Heagney has ridden winners at Derby, Broome, Marble Bar, Port Hedland and Roebourne which is over 1500km from Perth.

Trained at Port Hedland by Dean Cocivera and ridden by Michael Heagney, Zador Rock ($3.80) won the 2200m Roebourne Cup by over three lengths from stablemate Acermetric (Kyra Yuill, $3.70 favourite) and Falcon Trader (Kate Pateman, $6).