With more than three months until the official end of the picnic racing season, it’s early to be declaring the picnic horse of the year, but Cindy Alderson’s Cape Cross mare My Clementina has one hoof on the trophy. 
The four-year-old went to the Woolamai meeting on November 24 as a 10-start maiden, albeit with solid enough form at the professionals. 
Teaming with claiming apprentice Maddison Morris for the first time, My Clementina registered her first win that day, and has gone right on with it since. 
Wins at Healesville in early December and Drouin (easily) on Boxing Day were enough for punters to send out the mare a solidly supported $2.25 favourite for last Saturday’s Healesville Cup (1650m). 
Perfectly positioned in the run by Morris, My Clementina dashed to the lead before the corner, and with a significant weight advantage on her rivals cruised to the line 1¼ lengths clear of Merton Cup winner Derek the Viking. 
Lass too classy
Barry Goodwin’s five-year-old mare Albert’s Lass went into the last at Healesville, the Stu’s 30th Birthday Trophy Handicap (1650m), on the back of a Moonee Valley placing, and not surprisingly punters sent her out at a very short quote ($1.50). 
Those who’d laid the odds on had little cause for concern as Reece Goodwin soon had Albert’s Lass idling in behind the two leaders and she travelled very strongly in the run. 
Putting the race to bed well before the turn, the pair had 12 lengths up their sleeves on the line, and it could have been more. 
Like her stablemate La Rita, the Magic Albert mare could well be back at the professionals in the coming weeks.  
Right rein
Geelong-trained eight-year-old mare Bon Jovial made her first picnic appearance in 50 starts at Healesville, and the move was a winning one, breaking a run of outs for her and trainer David Connors that dated back to November 2016. 
Since a win in benchmark 58 class at Kyneton with Darren Gauci in the saddle, the Keep the Faith mare had had 18 starts for two minor placings. 
Despite her recent form, punters kept the five-time winner safe in the market and she was sent to the post a $4.40 third favourite. 
Well handled by rider John Eady, the pair came with a well timed run to finish over the top of $2.20 favourite Sheer Force. 
The win was also a drought-breaker for Eady, who registered his last local winner at Casterton in May 2000. 
Gold at last for Silver
Mother-daughter combination Rebecca and Debbie Waymouth continued their strong start to 2019 when they took out the first at Healesville, the East Malvern RSL Maiden Plater (1000m), with consistent five-year-old mare Southern Silver ($3.50). 
After placings at Healesville (twice), Balnarring, and Drouin on Boxing Day the mare was rewarded for her consistency with a lovely ride by Waymouth senior, and had a comfortable margin on the line. 
For those that like an omen, it was perhaps fitting that Southern Silver’s dam is named Richly Deserved. 
Strang goes bang
Seymour trainer Gordon Strang sent two runners around in the second on the card, the Chris Winks Swan Song Trophy Handicap (1000m) and went home with the quinella. 
The older of his two charges, the seven-year-old gelding Stormus ($4), went into Saturday’s contest with only one win from 51 starts — a maiden at Corowa in early 2017 — but a nice ride from Dani Walker saw him double his tally. 
Walker settled Stormus toward the rear of the field and they cut a path between the two leaders on straightening, racing away for a long-awaited win. 
Stablemate Hint of Moonlight ($4.60) worked on the speed early so her effort to stick on and chase Stormus to the line was admirable. 
Cooper’s claim the key
The picnic action continued into Sunday, and Balnarring’s sunny and well attended seven-race card produced another contender for picnic horse of the tear. 
Kelvin Southey’s six-year-old mare Rosover ($4.60) took the sixth on the card, the Stan Kerr 90th Birthday Celebration Open Trophy Race (1200m). 
After wins at Yea and Woolamai early this season, regular rider Shaun Cooper’s two-kilo claim came in handy, reducing the mare’s weight to 63kg — nine kilos less than runner-up Frankincense ($1.90), who ran home gallantly and finished a long neck behind the winner.   
Courtney kicks clear
A double to Courtney Pace on the Balnarring program was enough to take her to a two-win lead in this season’s picnic premiership.
Pace has 12 wins, clear of Shaun Cooper on 10. 
Both of Pace’s Balnarring wins came for local (Mornington) trainers who sent single runners to the meeting. 
Her first, for Robert Kingtson, came in the BetEasy Maiden Plate over 2000m, where his three-year-old Declaration of War filly Peaceful Solution was a dominant winner. 
Tested in stakes grade on more than one occasion in 2018, the 10-start maiden was always going to be hard to beat at her first picnic run and she was sent out a $1.40 favourite. 
Pace’s second win came in the fourth on the card, on another three-year-old filly – the David Brideoake-trained Tulum ($2.20), who broke her duck in the BetEasy Maiden Plate over 1200m at her seventh run. 
Tulum was far too good for her rivals, winning by an easy four lengths. 
Barry Goodwin’s grey gelding Allabout Thatbass ($15) was having his first run since May of 2018 and made good ground to run into the placings. 
He looked to have improvement in him in the yard, and could be one to follow.