Harness racing runs through the veins of Dennis Picker

He has spent his life living with standardbreds. No surprise given his family bloodline.

Picker’s mother Jenna is a sister of prominent New South Wales trainer-drivers Bernie, David and Mark Hewitt – all growing up in the industry as children of well-known horseman Tom Hewitt.

Based at the small town of Bigga, located on what he describes as a back road between Goulburn and Bathurst in rural New South Wales, Picker has tasted his share of success as an owner, trainer and driver.

He has trained 300 winners and driven more than 250, with fillies Just Cala and Elle Yeah providing his biggest moments as a trainer in winning a Group 1 Breeders Crown three-year-old final and Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge four-year-old final.

While Picker remains focused on getting into the winners’ circle from his own stable as often as possible, the family is more and more looking at producing winners in another way – through the sale ring.

For the second year the Pickers are offering youngsters to the wider standardbred community.

They’ll have five lots at the Nutrien Equine Standardbred Yearling Sale at Sydney on Sunday, February 20.

With Dennis overseeing their preparation, the Pickers took two colts to Nutrien Equine’s inaugural sale in Melbourne a year ago.

An American Ideal-Just Cala colt was sold for $37,000 and a Rock N Roll Heaven-Glenferrie Baby colt brought $42,500.

It was a great result and more than enough to convince them they were on the right track.

“It went well, so we’re now breeding more and will be putting them all through the sales rather than racing them ourselves,” Picker said.

He is well aware of the ongoing challenge of making the venture a long-term success.
“It’s not easy when you’re just starting out.

“You have to have them (the yearlings) looking a million dollars and of course attract clients.

“It’s like anything though. If you’re in for the long haul and you do the right thing at the start, hopefully in the years to come you’ll reap the benefits,” he said.

Progeny of Just Cala and Glenferrie Baby will again be among the lots the Pickers are offering in Sydney.

Lot 73 is an American Ideal-Just Cala filly – a full sister to one of the lots they sold last year. Dennis Picker’s brother Jo is the vendor.

“She’s a real nice filly. She’s a racing and great breeding proposition.”

Picker said they had decided to sell the filly given they still had three mares from that line with Just Cala and two race-winning daughters by Bettors Delight.

“Hopefully she fetches a nice price.”

Picker said it had been the acquisition of Just Cala (by Art Major) almost a decade ago as a race-winner from New Zealand that had ignited the move into breeding commercially.

“We purchased her as a racing and breeding proposition.

“We had quite a lot of luck on the track and now she’s continuing on her success in the breeding barn.”

The Pickers’ other lots:

Lot 3 – Ohoka Punter-Rocknroll Amber filly. Vendor Dennis Picker

The filly is from the first crop of the NZ-bred Ohoka Punter, which had three Group 1 wins – Victoria Derby, Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint – in a career featuring 27 wins for $1.177m in earnings.

Picker said it had not been a long-term plan to take the mare to Ohoka Punter.

“She was in Queensland and it was opportune.”
He said with the filly being one of only a handful of Qbred eligible foals going to the sale she might have some added appeal.

“There’s growing interest in Qbred. It’s growing in interest with the great bonuses they’re offering.”

 “She really is a gorgeous little filly. Quite easy to handle. Very neat.”
He said he had bought Rocknroll Amber (by Rock N Roll Heaven) after a racing career of nine wins.

“She was a fair mare and we raced a half-sister (Miss Fernandez) successfully.”

This is Rocknroll Amber’s first foal.

Lot 65 – Always B Miki-Glenferrie Baby colt.  Vendors Grant and Jenna Picker (parents of Dennis).

“This bloke is a bit bigger (than his half-brother sold last year).

“I can’t see why he won’t get the job done on the track.”

This is the second foal of Glenferrie Baby (Mach Three), which won 14 races and is a full sister to four winners including Blackbird Power (1:52.6, 28 wins, $225,000).

Lot 105 – Ultimate Machete-Phar From Over colt. Vendors Grant and Jenna Picker.

“He’s out of a mare which has had two foals to races for two winners.

“He’s a neat little fella.”

Phar From Over’s winners are Artistic Lilly (8 wins) and Phar From Kalahari (7 wins).

The colt is from the first crop of Ultimate Machete, which had 13 wins in a shortened race career for $823,000, with his victories including the group 1 NZ 3yo Sires Stakes, group 1 NZ Free-For-All, group 1 WA 4yo Classic and group 1 WA Gold Nugget.  He was also the NZ 3yo and 4yo of the year.

Lot 98 – Art Major-Onlykidding filly. Vendor Jenna Picker.

“She’s been the leader of the pack. A very strong and powerful filly with attitude.

“She’s the boss (of our crop).

“This filly has everything.”

The filly is the second foal out of Onlykidding (Pacific Fella), which won 17 races including two  Group 3s with a best 1:51.7.

Lot 102 has been withdrawn.

Online Catalogues links below for our Sydney and Melbourne Sales.

Parade will be held in Sydney on Friday 18^th at 6pm, we would like to welcome all to drinks and BBQ sponsored proudly by Woodlands Stud.

Inglis Riverside Stables, Warwick Farm

Sale 1pm 20^th Feb 2022

SYDNEY YEARLING SALE

MELBOURNE YEARLING SALE

By David Brehaut