Ricky Blewitt and Maddison Wright have been the premiership winning jockeys over recent years on the New South Wales picnic racing circuit however the Brazilian born Leandro Ribeiro is now making an impact.
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Ribeiro, who has a full book of rides at Bedgerabong on Saturday, kicked off his Australian career at Nyngan last year with two winners and more recently has ridden winning doubles at Forbes, Gilgandra and Wellington.
After riding about 100 winners as a professional, Ribeiro left Brazil and rode trackwork in England before coming to Australia in 2017, he presently is a work rider for leading Warwick Farm trainer Garry Portelli.
His partner Julia Presits was a successful jockey in her home country Sweden and Norway and is now riding in the professional ranks as a Sydney based apprentice. She won the final event at Bathurst TAB last Monday on Moon Over Menah.
The mount for Ribeiro in the $9,000 Western Tree Care Bedgerabong Picnic Cup is the Connie Greig, Dubbo trained Regina Margherita which was beaten a nose by Captain Jimmy in the feature event at the recent Wellington Picnics.
To be ridden again by Rosehill based Michael Wade, Captain Jimmy is now trained at Dunedoo by Paul Clisby, formerly from Hawkesbury.
Maddison Wright who will make the long trip from Moruya is booked for the Brett Robb, Nyngan trained Lucienne in the Cup while Ricky Blewitt is engaged for Rheingau from the Darryl Rolfe stable at Canberra.
Blewitt and Wright are top jockeys and both have a big following.
Looking an excellent chance in the Cup is the Dar Lunn, Dubbo trained Zoutenant, a prolific winner on western area tracks and a good fourth last outing in strong TAB company at Dubbo.
Formerly from Cowra, Wayne Wheatley who is booked for Zoutenant, rode over 200 winners as a professional In New South Wales and Queensland and brings a lot of experience to the Picnic circuit.
Michael.T.Johnston who rode his first winner, Magic Gift at the recent Wellington Picnics, will ride that horse again for trainer Peter.W.Stanley in the 1400 metres Class B Handicap at Bedgerabong.
Twenty two year old Johnston rides bucking stock at rodeos and is the son of Scott Johnston, formerly from Brewarrina, who won a world championship on the rodeo circuit in America.
Feature sprint at Bedgerabong is the 800 metres Clearview Bracelet in which the topweight is Red Marauder, the winner of three of the last four starts for Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald.
Bedgerabong racecourse with expansive lawns and gardens and a magnificent turf track is one of the prettiest in the State and the 1850 available tickets were sold out two weeks ago.
First race is scheduled for 1.30pm.
