Dennis Picker
Bigga trainer Dennis Picker has spent the past ten weeks in Queensland enjoying the warmer weather and has won nine races during his stay north of the border. Picker arrived home midweek but will be back on the road this weekend to put the finishing touches on his talented filly Just Cala after she won a semi final of the Breeders Crown last weekend.
"Just Cala has done a really good job for us since arriving from New Zealand and hopefully she can run another good race this weekend before she goes to the paddock for a well earned spell," Picker said.
"I think she had only been in the country six or seven days when she had her first run in Brisbane and then she raced on August 2 at Redcliffe before I sent her to Victoria to race at Kilmore five days later, she has just taken everything in her stride."
Just Cala has drawn barrier one in Sunday's Gr. 1 final and Picker is confident she has got enough speed if driver Amanda Turnbull wants to use it.
"I haven't spoken to Amanda yet about what she thinks but I have used Just Cala out of the gate in Queensland and she raced really well so if she wants to go forward at the start it isn't too much of a worry."
The daughter of Art Major is raced by Picker's brother Joe who is a member of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league squad.
"Joe wants to start selling some at the sales but to do that he has realised that he has to start buying some well bred fillies and this is why he bought her, to turn her into a broodmare at the end of her career."
"I've been watching a fair bit of the Rabbitohs since Joe joined them after he left the Raiders, they're going really well and hopefully they keep playing well with the finals just around the corner."
Picker splits his time between training and shearing sheep.
"I have been doing less shearing each year and I think that trend is going to continue again with such a big team at home."
