Michael Travers Racing

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While the 2025/26 NSW Picnic Champion Series final was only recently run and won at Dubbo, the Michael Travers-trained Roullottie has set the tone for the 2026/27 season.The six-year-old Casino Prince mare has landed back-to-back cup wins, triumphing at Lockhart on October 2 before backing up eight days later to win at Young on October 10.At Lockhart, the feature on the program was the Verandah Town Cup over 1400m, and with Bessie Dimery in the saddle and carrying only 62kg, Roullottie found the front and kicked on strongly to win the four-horse race by nearly four lengths.On Saturday at Young, the Wagga galloper faced a tougher assignment, this time with Emily Harrison on board in the 1400m Burrangong Picnic Cup.Still, Roullottie, allotted 64kg, showed enough early dash to find the front and was again resolute, holding on tenaciously to beat a good field of picnic gallopers that included East Harlem, Vastly, Hemsted and Blackhill Kitty.Travers is now looking ahead to the Harden Picnic Cup (1400m) on Saturday, October 24, where he is hoping Roullottie can win again and all but seal her place in next year’s $50,000 Picnic Champion Series final.Roullottie will still get into the race with a decent weight, and it will be a good opportunity for connections.While he will target Harden, Travers turns his attention in the meantime to a busy week ahead, including Saturday’s program at Wagga, where he will have up to six runners. Words: Jeff Hanson

Roullottie Sets Early Tone in Picnic Champion Series

Michael Travers

With 15 starters across three meetings, results were always going to define Michael Travers Racing’s success over the October long weekend.&nbsp;Heading to the races confident of success, Travers prepared five winners, including a treble at Lockhart picnics on Friday and TAB winners at Wagga on Saturday and Cootamundra on Sunday.&nbsp;“It is always a good confidence boost for the stable and the horses when you can get a few winners like that,” Travers said.&nbsp;“We found the right races for the right horses, so it was a good weekend.”&nbsp;At Lockhart,&nbsp;Roullottie&nbsp;won the Verenderah Town Cup (1400m),&nbsp;Backflips&nbsp;took out the Maiden Plate (1200m) and&nbsp;Gettin’ Tipsy&nbsp;made a nice stable debut, winning the Conditional Picnic Handicap (1200m).&nbsp;It was also a red-letter day for Bessie Dimery, who works for fellow Wagga trainer Gary Colvin. The amateur jockey rode all three winners, scoring the first treble of her career.&nbsp;Despite racing at the picnics, a win is a win according to Travers, who was thrilled to see&nbsp;Roullottie, whom he owns, drop back in grade and score the third win of her career in Lockhart’s feature event.&nbsp;“Any return to owners is good,” Travers said.&nbsp;“Roullottie could have gone around at a TAB race and finished midfield, winning $500. Instead, we won at the picnics and got $5000.”&nbsp;Following a huge day at Lockhart, Travers watched on as the returning&nbsp;Santolini, with Brodie Loy in the saddle, showcase a good turn of foot, storming to victory in the 1200m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Wagga.&nbsp;At Cootamundra, it was another returning galloper first-up for Travers in&nbsp;Star Empire. Loy again took the ride as the pair finished strongly to win the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.&nbsp;Both gallopers are raced by Dani Hamlin and Greg Brown, who also watched on as&nbsp;Cinephile&nbsp;(Nick Heywood) ran a good second in the 1675m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Wagga, making it a profitable weekend for all involved.&nbsp;“Those horses were in the right races on the day, and I only wish Cinephile had won as they had a $50 all-up going to win $12,000,” Travers laughed.&nbsp;“They have been good owners, and with me for a long time. They enjoy their horses and racing and have supported me, so it’s good to have those results.”&nbsp;Travers will be looking to continue the strong run this week, with runners entered for the Burrangong picnic meeting at Young and the TAB meeting at Albury, both on Saturday.&nbsp;“There’s lots of racing, and we have been trying to gear up for it for a while and make sure the horses are ready to go come carnival time, as there are a lot of meetings around here for us,” Travers said.&nbsp;“We have 15 to 20 horses ready to go and we’ll have a crack at these meetings as they arrive.” Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

Five wins and feature races headline MTR’s long weekend

Michael Travers kicked off the October long weekend in fine style, combining with amateur jockey Bessie Dimery when scoring a winning treble and securing the feature race at Lockhart picnics on Friday.The main event on the program was the $10,000 Verandah Town Cup over 1400m, and Roullottie got the chocolates for Travers and connections while bringing up the stable’s third win of the day.Carrying only 62kg – at least 5.5kg better than her rivals – the six-year-old Casino Prince mare was a class above, winning by 3.68 lengths.Roullottie ($3.50) is now a three-time winner and has raced well this preparation, winning two races.Earlier on the program, Backflips kicked off a winning day for MTR, taking out the 1200m Maiden Plate.&nbsp;Dimery rode the three-year-old Acrobat filly patiently from gate four, and the pair got home in the nick of time to win by 0.1 of a length.Then in a small three-horse field, Gettin’ Tipsy made a nice stable debut in the 1200m Conditional Picnic Handicap and was a good three-length winner.The five-year-old Stratum Star mare has now won two from 14.Travers will turn his attention to a massive weekend, where he has a slew of runners at meetings at Wagga on Saturday and Cootamundra on Sunday.With five runners at Wagga and six chances at Cootamundra, the stable’s best could be Mathrin in the Cootamundra Cup.With rain about and a wet forecast, the Wagga mudlark will be suited to the conditions, and she has attracted the services of leading Southern Districts jockey Blaike McDougall. Words: Jeff Hanson Images: Kylie Shaw/Trackpix Racing Photography

Cup win and Lockhart treble for Travers and Dimery

<div style="text-align: left;">Stepping back from metropolitan racing, Michael Travers will be hoping&nbsp;Seasmoke&nbsp;can land a well-deserved win at Wagga on Saturday as he eyes the upcoming Subzero Handicap for his popular grey mare.Before finishing down the track in a 1400m Class Two Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on August 29, the 4YO Dracarys mare had been racing consistently.As a Class One galloper, resuming in a 1200m Class Two Handicap at Narrandera on July 12 with Pierre Boudvillain aboard,&nbsp;Seasmoke&nbsp;raced wide and found the front before finishing second, beaten a half-length.Then racing at Albury on August 18 in a 1400m Class One Handicap with Blaike McDougall riding, she found one better on the day, finishing a well-beaten second in heavy conditions to the Doug Gorrel-trained Fair Master.Most recently racing in town, the Wagga galloper drew wide in a tough Highway Handicap, was forced to go back for Alysha Collett, and was never a winning chance.Back in grade and distance, Seasmoke still runs into a nice race at Wagga when taking on the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap, which includes promising galloper Serenading from the Danny Beasley camp.Still, Travers is confident in the mare’s ability and is dreaming of starting her in the 1400m Subzero Handicap at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.The race is restricted to greys, and Travers admitted it was a pipe dream but a goal for connections, who have enjoyed racing the consistent&nbsp;Seasmoke.“We have always toyed with the idea of putting her in the greys’ race on Melbourne Cup Day,” Travers said.“Whether she is good enough is another thing, but it would be a good experience for connections and that’s our current goal, but first, we need to win at Wagga.”It’s been a somewhat frustrating preparation for&nbsp;Seasmoke, who has missed out on multiple runs due to abandoned meetings at Albury and Wagga.Tough draws haven’t helped either, and while Travers conceded it was part and parcel of racing, he said the outside barrier would make things challenging on Saturday.“We’ve just had bad barriers and had to scratch from Goulburn, but at some stage you have to go around and suck it up,” Travers said.“At least being at Wagga, we walk across the road. It’s a good race and there are no easy races to win these days.“These (Benchmark) 58s generally have a progressive type or two, and we’ll be hoping she can do her best and get the job done like we know she can.”Reigning NSW jockey of the year Pierre Boudvillain will jump back aboard Seasmoke ($12), and Travers said it would be up to the Frenchman to navigate his way from what will most likely be gate 11 of 11.“I won’t be giving him instructions; I’ll just tell him good luck,” Travers laughed.“It is one of those gates where he will have to make a decision in the first 100m, whether he can find a spot midfield, take a sit deep and find some cover, or just go back. But that will be up to him.”Travers has a strong team entered at Wagga, with&nbsp;Not Guilty&nbsp;(Michael Heagney, $4.60) contesting the 1200m Maiden Handicap,&nbsp;Iroqaui&nbsp;(Blaike McDougall, $11) in the 1000m Class One Handicap, and&nbsp;Cinephile&nbsp;(Pierre Boudvillain, $16) in either the 2000m Benchmark 58 Handicap, where he is an emergency, or alternatively, the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap.Not Guilty&nbsp;is well placed after the 5YO Shamus Award gelding made his stable debut in a 1000m Maiden Plate at Gundagai on September 6, finding the front after getting through some work and only going down 1.38 lengths to impressive winner Tallingas Avanati.“They are all chances, but Not Guilty is my best,” Travers said."He did really well at Gundagai; he did all the hard yards, put paid to the odds-on favourite, and looked the winner but got beaten by a horse that looks to be pretty handy.“He’s done everything right since then, and all he has to do is reproduce that effort and he’ll be hard to beat.”Travers won’t be at Wagga on Saturday for the popular Aggies Race Day and will instead be in Sydney, where he will start the in-form&nbsp;Teresprit&nbsp;(Louise Day, $81) in the 1000m Class Three Highway Handicap.The 5YO Territories mare has been a picture of consistency since winning a 1000m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Gundagai on June 27, running placings at Wagga in July and Gundagai and Corowa in August.“With any luck, she wins her next race, and the reason we are going to Sydney is that it is the only race around for her,” Travers said.“There’s nothing around here for the next two to three weeks, and to be honest, I nominated thinking she would get balloted, but she’s got a run and we are heading down today and will have a throw at the stumps tomorrow.” Words/Image: Jeff Hanson</div>

Travers dreaming of Melbourne feature for grey galloper Seasmoke

<div style="text-align: left">Red-hot Wagga trainer Michael Travers will have NSW’s leading jockey aboard four big chances at Gundagai on Saturday, the headline act in a massive few days that also takes in Rosehill Gardens, Dubbo and Albury.Travers, who is enjoying his best season to date with 32 winners in 2025/26, will appreciate having Pierre Boudvillain in the saddle. The Frenchman leads the NSW title with 128 victories, 14 clear of nearest rival Tommy Berry.“He’s riding fantastically well,” Travers said."He got the best out of Roullottie for us at Narrandera the other day, and he’s ridden quite a few winners for us, so I’m really happy to be able to get him on all of my runners at Gundagai.“As you know, every little advantage helps, and we have come up with some good draws as well, so hopefully we have the right horses.”Kicking off the team’s chances is Second Witness (gate 2) in the 1180m Maiden Plate, while the stable’s best chance could be Aerial Artist (gate 1) in the 1000m Maiden Handicap.The 3YO Trapeze Artist gelding steps back from full TAB maidens, where he hasn’t been far off the pace, and he finally lands a soft draw for connections.Teresprit (gate 10) is a capable type on her day, and she will go around in the 1000m Benchmark 50 Handicap.Last-start winner Roullottie (gate 1) will also take some beating in the 1400m Benchmark 50 Handicap. The 5YO Casino Prince mare was given a wonderful front-running ride to win by two lengths in the same grade and distance at Narrandera on June 13.“Roullottie should go forward from the inside draw, and we’ll see if Pierre can go back-to-back on her,” Travers said.Away from Gundagai, Demi God is a reserve in the 1500m Class Three Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, while Jenni Divine heads to Dubbo for the 1300m Benchmark 58 Handicap Winter Country Classic Final.The 4YO Divine Prophet mare ran an eye-catching third in the qualifier and shapes as a big improver in the final, but Travers said he will only make the long trip if the track doesn’t descend into a heavy rating.Then on Monday, the stable could have up to seven starters at Albury, where it will likely be a heavy racecourse.Inzain Baby (Blaike McDougall, gate 10) resumes in the 1000m Maiden Plate and will probably need the run, while Swinging High (Damon Budler, gate 6) gets conditions to suit in the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap after a placing at Albury last time out.Renowned Riverina mudlark Mathrin (Carly Frater, gate 11) is fresh off a big win at Wagga and will relish the wet conditions in the 1400m Benchmark 82 Handicap.Travers then could have up to four chances in the Country Boosted 1175m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Brutal Force (Blaike McDougall, gate 1) leads the charge, with the 4YO Brutal gelding fresh off back-to-back wins at Dubbo and Wagga.Seasmoke (Cory Parish, gate 13) resumes, while recent Albury winner Iroquai (gate 16) and Albury placegetter Taluk (gate 8) are also entered.“Mathrin and Brutal Force will be good chances; both are proven wet trackers and last-start winners,” Travers said.“It’s the right time of year for them, and hopefully we run into a wet track.” Words: Jeff Hanson/Dusty Hooves Media Image: Kylie Shaw/Trackpix Racing Photography </div>

Travers and Boudvillain look to continue their success at Gundagai 

<div style="text-align: left">Winning doubles at Albury and Wagga, on the back of recent victories at Dubbo and Narrandera, has helped Michael Travers to one of his best weeks as a trainer. Brutal Force (Jean Van Overmeire) kicked off a busy month, winning the 1100m Class One Handicap at Dubbo on June 5, before Roullottie (Pierre Boudvillain) triumphed in the 1175m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Narrandera on June 13. Then, racing at Albury on Tuesday, Travers combined with Blaike McDougall as Iroquai won the 1175m Maiden Handicap and Demi God saluted in the 1400m Class Two Handicap. On his home deck at Wagga on Sunday, Travers watched the in-form Brutal Force, again ridden by Van Overmeire, make it back-to-back victories in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Purchased for just $3,000 via Inglis Digital earlier this year, the four-year-old son of Brutal has proven a bargain buy — Sunday's win taking his record for the stable to an impressive three wins and $41,925 from just five starts. Capping off a remarkable day and week, stable stalwart Mathrin added another chapter to her storied career, relishing the Heavy 10 conditions to claim the 1600m Benchmark 82 Handicap by a whopping 3.47 lengths. The Queen of the MTR stable, the tough mare dug deep for Carly Frater when it mattered most, showcasing the determination and heart that have made her such a valued member of the team. The victory was the 10th of her career and came at her 97th start — a testament to her durability, consistency and sheer will to win. "She's a marvel, isn't she?" Travers said of Mathrin. "She has held the stable together for years, and hopefully we can keep her around a little bit longer. "We had her here on a wet track last start, and she had to perform. We got a little bit unlucky and just missed the run at the top of the straight, but she hit the line powerfully to run third at big odds. Today, with a really heavy track, I was pretty confident." When asked about his big week, Travers put the results down to a team thriving on rain-affected tracks. "It's been a fantastic couple of weeks, and this is my time of year," he said. "When it starts getting wet, it suits us. They're all thriving at the moment, and hopefully we can keep them going." Travers is now on 97 career wins and is rocketing toward the century mark, after only deciding to take up training in 2020. The former respected jockey, who rode nearly 1,000 winners, landed his first career victory as a trainer in April 2021 — becoming the first NSW-licensed trainer/jockey to win a race when Estaverdi broke through at Gundagai. Two years later, Travers hung up his riding boots and turned his attention to training full-time, and has already tasted plenty of success. In 2023/24, Travers won 19 races; last season, he brought up a career-best 26. In 2025/26, with over a month of the season remaining, he is up to 32 victories, ranking 16th on the NSW country trainers' premiership. This week, the stable will look to continue the hot run, with Travers targeting meetings at Rosehill Gardens and Gundagai on Saturday, and potentially Dubbo on Sunday. Words: Jeff Hanson/Dusty Hooves Media Image: Kylie Shaw/Trackpix</div>

Mathrin marvels as Travers banks Albury and Wagga doubles

A flurry of winners throughout June has taken Michael Travers to 30 victories for the 2025/26 season, surpassing the 19 winners he trained in 2023/24 and the 26 winners recorded in 2024/25. Brutal Force's win at Dubbo on June 6 kicked off the hot streak for Michael Travers Racing (MTR). The 10-hour round trip to Dubbo proved worthwhile as the stable landed a strong victory in the 1100m Class One Handicap. Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, the four-year-old Brutal gelding was well supported in betting, firming from $21 into $13 on what turned out to be a Heavy 9 surface. The Wagga-trained galloper relished the conditions, powering home to claim the $35,000 feature. The winning run continued at Narrandera on Saturday, June 13, when Roullottie ($10) n returned to the winner's circle. Pierre Boudvillain produced a perfect front-running ride aboard the five-year-old Casino Prince mare, with the pair making every post a winner in the 1400m Benchmark 50 Handicap. Capping off a sensational month, Travers celebrated a winning double at Albury on Tuesday, June 16.Blaike McDougall partnered both winners and got the ball rolling aboard Iroquai ($4.60), who stormed home to win the 1175m Maiden Handicap. The four-year-old Shamus Award mare had been knocking on the door and proved too classy for her rivals in the heavy conditions. Later in the day, McDougall guided Demi God ($4.80) to a thrilling victory in the 1400m Class Two Handicap. The three-year-old Peltzer gelding appreciated the drop back in grade and brought up the third win of his 14-start career. Splitting the stable's two winners was Swinging High ($4), who produced an improved performance to finish third in the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap under Rebecca Bronnett Prag. With momentum firmly on its side, MTR now turns its attention to Wagga on Sunday, where Mathrin, Taluk, Seasmoke, Jenni Divine and Brutal Force are all entered to run. Words: Jeff Hanson / Dusty Hooves Media Image: Kylie Shaw / Trackpix Photography

Albury double helps MTR to 30th victory of the season

The ten-hour round trip to Dubbo paid off for Michael Travers Racing on Friday, with Brutal Force landing a big win in the 1100m Class One Handicap.Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, the 4YO Brutal gelding was supported from $21 to $13 on what turned out to be a heavy 9 surface.Still, the Wagga runner thrived in the conditions, powering to a strong win in the $35,000 event.Travers, speaking after the race, explained it was a somewhat surprising result.“We came here for the other ones (stablemates), but we’ll take it,” Travers quipped.“I own him, too, so it’s a good result.”A $3000 purchase earlier this year via the Inglis Online March Sale, Brutal Force has been a shrewd buy for Travers, having now had four starts for the stable for two wins and a second, earning $27,000 in the process.It was a good day for the Wagga team, which also raced Jennie Divine, Taluk and Swinging High in the Country Classic Qualifier (1300m) later on the Dubbo program.The fillies and mares qualifier was led up by Jennie Divini (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $6.50), who kicked on gamely for third, while Taluk (Chad Lever, $13) caught the eye, flashing strongly for fourth, and Swinging High (Jean Van Overmeire, $6.50) was 3.89 lengths back in seventh.Travers and his team turn their attention to Canterbury on Monday, with Demi God to be tested again in metropolitan company when taking on the 1250m Benchmark 64 HandicapBraith Nock will be in the saddle, and the 3YO Peltzer gelding has drawn gate eight in the $65,000 event.&nbsp;Words: Jeff HansonImage: Racing Photography

MTR shows force Dubbo

She’ll go around as one of the outsiders, but the Michael Travers-trained Mathrin will find conditions to suit and looks to get in nicely in Saturday’s Ladies Day Cup at Wagga. The rising nine-year-old will be searching for career win number ten when taking on the 1200m Benchmark 74 Handicap, and she has attracted the services of Brodie Loy and has drawn kindly with gate two. With rain around earlier in the week, it means the Riverside track will have some give, and is currently rated a soft six, which suits the old stager, who’s won six times on rain-affected surfaces. Tested in metropolitan company last time out, Mathrin will appreciate the drop back to country grade and racing on her home track (34: 5-4-4). As always, it will be a competitive race, with the likes of Bide Your Time and Fourthtimelucky the horses to beat. At Wagga, Travers will also have Brooklyn Dash (Matt Kirk) and My Inspiration (Robyn Freeman) in the 1800m Benchmark 50 Handicap and Brutal Force (Robyn Freeman) and potentially emergency Roullottie in the 1200m Class One Handicap. Next week, Travers will turn his attention to meetings at Albury on Tuesday and Goulburn on Friday. At Albury, the fields are out, and the Wagga trainer has Iroquai (Blaike McDougall) in the 900m Maiden Plate, Jenni Divine (Cory Parish) contesting the 1000m Class One Handicap, and Taluk (Blaike McDougall) going around in the 1175m Benchmark 58 Handicap. At Goulburn, Naughton's Bar will lead the charge in either the 1500m Maiden Handicap or 2145m Class One/Maiden Plate. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Bradley Photos

Mathrin well-placed in Wagga Ladies Day Cup 

Michael Travers will shoot for the stars with his in-form filly, Seasmoke, which will take on the $80,000 MTC Guineas at Wagga on Friday.
The 3YO daughter of Dracarys has been racing in good form since winning her maiden over the 1400m at Albury on February 23.
Since then, the flashy grey has been thereabouts, running placings over the 1400m trip at Albury on March 19, Gundagai on April 12, and Albury on April 23.
Last time out, Seasmoke was doing her best work late, hitting the line strongly at Albury in preparation for tomorrow&rsquo;s 3YO feature race.
&ldquo;She&rsquo;s going well, and we&rsquo;ve got a lot of local owners that wouldn't mind getting out to the carnival,&rdquo; Travers said.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be a tough race, but they are only 3YO once, so it&rsquo;s worth having a crack; we&rsquo;ll see where she finishes and what we can expect of her next preparation.&rdquo;
A bargain buy, Seasmoke was purchased as an unraced 2YO for just $1000 during the 2024 Inglis August (Early) Online Sale.
A nice filly with obvious ability from the outset, Seasmoke took a little while to put it all together for connections.
&ldquo;I think the key has been her mental maturity,&rdquo; Travers said.
&ldquo;She&rsquo;s always had the physical tools, but wasn&rsquo;t there mentally, but she understands what her job is now, and she is happy to get out there and do it.
&ldquo;She didn&rsquo;t cost us a lot, but her owners have been good; patience is hard to come by, but those who have it have been rewarded, and hopefully continue to be rewarded with her.&rdquo;
A very strong MTC Guineas on paper, the likes of Bjorn Baker, Gai Waterhouse &amp; Adrian Bott, and John Sargent will have runners, along with leading country stables.
Shaun Guymer will ride Seasmoke, and from the good draw (gate 2), the filly will get every chance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re hopeful rather than expecting a result, and we&rsquo;d love her to come out and run a credible race,&rdquo; Travers said. &ldquo;We won&rsquo;t change anything; from the good draw, we&rsquo;ll get her comfortable and give her every opportunity.
Travers will have runners on both days of the 2026 Wagga Gold Cup carnival, including Notafoni on Thursday in the $50,000 Super Maiden Handicap (1000m).
On Friday, the stable will have runners in multiple feature events.
Swinging High (Rebecca Bronett-Prag) has drawn gate 17 in the $75,000 Queen Of The South (1400m), while Demi God (Shaun Guymer), who ran a very credible sixth in last month&rsquo;s Albury Guineas (1400m), is likely the stable&rsquo;s best chance on the day, taking on the 1300m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

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Roullottie Sets Early Tone in Picnic Champion Series

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