No trainer can match Peter Sinclair for the number of chances at a trophy. The Moree man has seven horses nominated including three in the Picnic Cup itself. 

“Of course I’d like to win the trifecta!” Sinclair said. “And you never know, I’ve got three in there and they’ll all run a good race.”

Sinclair named One Double the favourite among the trio. 

The four-year-old gelding won his race over 1300 metres the last time he raced in Moree and placed fourth in his last race at Gunnedah (1600m) earlier this month. 

His other horses in the cup are Planetarium and Dungiven.  

A seven-year-old gelding, Planetarium, won his last race, which was in October in Moree. 

On that day he narrowly pipped another local horse, the Fernandos’ Danky Kat.

Samantha Russell-Fernando said she’d love to return the favour this year. 

“There’s definitely a friendly rivalry there,” Russell-Fernando said. “There’s definitely no animosity but I’d sure love to return the favour! Dandy Kat wasn’t quite himself last year, he had a few niggles throughout the year but now he’s rock hard and ready to go.” 

Dandy will have a new jockey in Michael Grey but Russell-Fernando said the 11-year-old gelding pretty much rode himself.

“He’s an old campaigner,” she said. “He knows what to do and I’m confident he’ll be right up there with him.”

The Fernandos’ other nomination, Pushthru, will run race four over 1200m.

Russell-Fernando said the horse had come good for her since she had worked out how to overcome his weaknesses.

“He doesn’t go so well in a pack, but once we started riding him out wide he’s been placing pretty consistently.”

The fourth local hope in the cup is Campbell Roberts’ Chart. 

Chart came second in the Moree’s Pacific National Chopper Cup back in February. 

Peter Sinclair will have two horses in race two, Booked Out and Cardician, while his son Nathan will run Long Lasting in the same race.

In race three Peter Sinclair will run Magic Flight and in race six Petals Pride. 

Sinclair said Long Lasting and Cardician were new horses bought specifically for the bracelet. 

“I’m very interested to see how Long Lasting goes and Booked Out has a very good record on this track so I’ll be keeping an eye on him too,” he said. 

Moree Picnic Race Club president Tim Poole said he was excited by the strength and depth of the local horses but added the day was about more than just the horses. 

“It’s a great social day and people can bring a rug and a plate of food and join us at the marquee luncheon,” Poole said. 

“Afterwards we’ve got Lisa Hunt and her band Forever Soul.”

Poole said tickets were available online or at Pitman Deakin.