Source :- THE AGE NEWS
By Neil Evans
Only 10 days after what he described as a “special” moment at racing headquarters, Canberra trainer Rob Potter is out to maintain the momentum at Monday’s feature Orange meeting.
The stable finally landed its first Randwick win – albeit on the Kensington track – when smart mare Laurel Hill powered home to win a Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1250m.
Racing returns to Orange on Monday, with a seven-race card.Credit: Getty
“I’d won races at Canterbury and Warwick Farm before, but never at Randwick. Even though it was on the Kenso, I can tell you it was pretty special,” Potter said afterwards.
The former farrier-turned-trainer has a built a strong team through 2025, resulting in more trips to provincial and metropolitan venues.
Laurel Hill had won a conditional BM 68 Handicap over 1400m at Newcastle, but you have to go back a few months to find Potter’s last win with any other galloper.
So he’s determined to hit the ground running at Orange, starting in the opening BM 58 Handicap (2100m) with Flashy Icon which looks supremely placed fourth-up from the inside draw.
A tough and consistent five-year-old, Flashy Icon has been very sparingly raced this year, having not missed a place in his last five, and drops back from deeper grade at Canberra 10 days ago when beaten just over a length.
Later in the program, Potter has accepted with seven-year-old mare Tavolo in a competitive BM 74 Handicap over 1400m, three days after she finished down the track in a stronger open Federal at home after having a tough run.
Then in a Heat of the Rising Star over 1300m – run at BM 58 level – connections will be confident improving six-year-old Burrowa has found the right race third-up.
A capable son of Group 1 powerhouse Astern, Burrowa has only a modest strike rate from 24 starts, but there’s been enough to like about his two runs back this campaign.
After being unsuited fresh on the tight turning Gundagai track, he hit the line impressively to miss by only a half-length in a BM 58 at the Sapphire Coast over 1200m.
With an extra 100m here, and a 3kg claimer off-setting the weight, Burrowa is primed to hand Potter more success and likely nail down a start in a Saturday Highway.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
