A ground-saving ride by Jack Virgona saw fourth emergency Mr Zigmund get up to win the prestigious Golden Thong (2350m) at Healesville last Saturday.
Few picnic races even have four emergencies, never mind the fourth of them winning.
Virgona brought Mr Zigmund ($12) from near last before the turn, diving along the inside to get up by two lengths from stablemate Understated.
Both are trained at Carnbourne by Peter Foster.
Sharkbite gelding Needa Bigger Boat ($14) was third for another Cranbourne trainer in John Gilligan, completing a high-priced trifecta by picnic standards.
Admittedly this year’s Golden Thong had attracted an even capacity (10-horse) field, with fifth-placed favourite Whiskey Jack starting at $4.
Mr Zigmund gave Irish-bred Dansili sire Zoffany his third feature winner of the weekend, following Fawkner Park in the Albury Gold Cup and Osmose in the Epona Stakes.
Ding-dong battle
The Victorian picnic trainers’ premiership is well and truly alive going into the season-closing Easter weekend, with leader Don Dwyer (14 wins) and chaser Troy Kilogower (13) trading blows at Healesville.
Dwyer briefly extended his lead to two when Kulina ($4) won the Matthew O’Brien Memorial Open Trophy Race (1200m) under Shaun Cooper.
But Kilgower hit back two races later with Regal Magnate ($5) in the M.K . and M.G. Lugg Memorial Maiden Plate (1650m), ridden by stable hoop Grant Seccombe.
Stunna strikes
Earlier, Pakenham trainer Brooke Verwey-Mitchell broke through for her first picnic winner when Stunna The Runna ($7) took the Drago and Greg Birthday Maiden Plate (1200m).
Stunna The Runna had started 2024 with successive thirds at Healesvile, Woolamai and Yea, breaking through at her 27th start overall and 14th for Verwey-Mitchell.
Maddison Morris has been her jockey at all four picnic runs.
This was Verwey-Mitchell’s second winner, following Run Walrus Run ($31) in 0-58 grade at Yarra Valley last October.
Big day for bookies
On a rare day at the picnics where not a single favourite got up, last Saturday’s other winners were Shahin ($6.50) for Cranbourne’s David Noonan and Jenni Contessa ($5.50) for Cranbourne’s Martin Gray.
Apprentice Sophie Clayfield kept up her good run by winning on Shahin while Melinda McDonald rode Jenni Contessa.