The trophy-winning spree of Zoutenant continued when the Dar Lunn-trained seven year old won the Come-By-Chance Picnic Cup (1400m) on Saturday.
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During the current campaign the Dubbo-trained Zoutenant has won the Carinda Cup for the second year in succession, the Collie Cup at Gilgandra, the Gulargambone Cup and now the PJ O'Brien Memorial Cup in front of a good size crowd at Come-By-Chance.
Carrying the steadier of 69kg after a 3kg allowance for Steven Kehoe, Zoutenant settled in a nice position behind the front-runners before sweeping to the lead before the home turn.
Taking control, Zoutenant ($2.80) cleared out to win by four-and-a-half lengths from Bells 'N' Bows (Maddison Wright, $2.50 favourite) with another five lengths to Free Ticket (Jody Hughes, $11).
Notable on the day was the return to the winners circle by jockeys Ricky Blewitt and Michael Gray who along with Michael Hackett received serious injuries in a race fall at Tomingley Picnics in April.
Michael Hackett is still recovering at home however Blewitt and Gray made their comeback to riding in the Picnic Championship Final at Dubbo in mid September.
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Ricky Blewitt, a multiple premiership winner, rode Swoop for Moree trainer Peter Sinclair in the Boss Agriculture Class B Handicap Over 1200m at Come-By-Chance.
After a battle for the lead , Swoop ($1.60 fav.) fought off Work And Chat (Jody Hughes, $3.40) to win by nearly a length with Huang Zhong (Maddison Wright, $3.40) finishing third.
The winning ride for Michael Gray came aboard the Michael Lunn, Dubbo trained Thorn Lass in the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust Class B Handicap (1600m).
Thorn Lass ($4) drifted well back in the field before finishing best to beat stablemate Applied (Jody Hughes, $2.80) and Fleur De Force (Ricky Blewitt, $1.80 fav.).
At the opening meeting of the picnic season, first to earn points in the race to qualify for the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final next September were starters in the 800 metres Rabobank Class 3 Handicap.
Earning maximum points was the Rodney Robb-trained Sissie's Choice (Maddison Wright, $1.70 fav.) which set the pace when beating Sapience (Jody Hughes, $3.50) and Settlers (Michael Gray, $5).
Completing a winning treble, Nyngan-based Robb won with Messy Miss (Maddison Wright, $1.50 fav.) raced by the Taunton family and friends from Trundle and Rogue Runner (Jody Hughes,$3.20) raced by the trainers wife Wendy Robb and Wayne Brown.
