Based at Wangaratta, Victoria, trainer Russell Green has often raced his team at meetings in western New South Wales and on Saturday he won the 1700 metres DJW & Wells Cobar Picnic Cup with Lord Percy.

Starting the $8 outsider in the Cup, Lord Percy (Zara Lewis) took the lead from Outback Cod and in the straight fought off the challenge from Coastal Groove (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.30) and Joshua (Todd Bailey, $2 favourite).

Blackhill Kitty is entitled to be early favourite for the $50,000 Picnic Champions Series Final at Dubbo in September after winning at Cobar and finishing on top of the point score qualifying ladder for the Final.

From near last in the 1400 metres Nutrien Russell Trophy Handicap, Blackhill Kitty (Leandro Ribeiro, $3.20 favourite) reeled in the leader Loud (Ricky Blewitt, $4.20) to win by a length with Different Road (Paul Zerafa, $10) in third place.

Horses trained at Tumbarumba by Mont Waters hold track records at several venues and it was another record when Cassimir ($4) ridden by Mont’s daughter Emily Waters came from midfield to beat the leader Spirit Lake (Bessie Dimery, $3 favourite) and Obsessive Nature (Ashley Boyd, $4.60) in the 1000 metres Cynend Building & Construction Trophy Handicap.

Widely travelled Forbes trainer Bill Hayes who has had starters from King Island, Tasmania to outback NSW over the past 7 months, won the 1000 metres Cobar Steel Class B Handicap with Rubicon River.

Parked behind the leaders turning for home, Rubicon River (Ashley Boyd, $6) finished best to beat Spotted (Ricky Blewitt, $3 favourite) and Savvy Statement (Emily Waters, $4.40)

Owned by Andy Barrow and family from Gunnedah and trained at Gilgandra by Kieren Hazelton, Ransom’s Girl (Ricky Blewitt, $2.10 favourite) won the 1000 metres Maiden Plate while the Ray Hartley, Tamworth trained Point To Prove ($2.20 favourite) won the 1400 metres Sullivans Mining & Industrial Class B Handicap.