Owen took out the first three races as he continued his strong form on the picnics circuit.

Owen, now based in Canberra, was pleased with how things started off.

“It was a good day,” Owen said. “They don’t happen very often.”

First he guided Pellet to victory for Wantabadgery trainer Rodger Waters.

The three-year-old filly was having her first start and surprised Owen with her performance.

“I’d barrier trialled it once and it didn’t show us a lot in the barrier trial,” he said.

“It looked like the horse really improved under race conditions and got the job done real nice I thought.”

Pellet sat just behind the leaders, but found space in the straight to take out the Jim Brown Memorial & ABC Freighters Maiden Plate (1000m). 

Owen then combined with Canberra trainer Neil Osborne for more success aboard Kinda Tangy.

Kinda Tangy made it two wins in her last four starts when she took out the Oxton Park Pty Ltf & Gillen Gillen Pastoral Co Class B Handicap (1100m). 

With the course downgraded to a Heavy 9, Owen was surprised by how she handled the conditions.

“We were a bit concerned when the track went to Heavy as she isn’t really a wet tracker but she got the run of the run in behind the leaders and her class probably got her home in the end,” he said.

Owen then joined up with Canberra trainer Gratz Vella to score aboard Mclennan in the Harden Fuel Supplies & Thompsons Rural Supplies Open Trophy Handicap (1100m).

The $2.40 favourite had to carry 66.5 kilograms, but just had enough to run past Still Missing for trainer Trevor McIlrick and win by a head. 

Owen thought the big weigh was going to be too much of a burden before finding a little extra up the straight.

“I thought the one to beat was Trevor McIlrick’s and just as we were going up the hill towards the 500 Trevor’s was going a lot better than me and it wasn’t until I peeled him across Trevor’s heels at the 250 and got him to the better going that my horse got going again,” he said. “It was a really tough win, he wasn’t entitled to win with the work he done and the weight he had.”

Owen headed into the feature race, the Sibelco & Nathan Schofield Carpentry Harden Picnic Race Club Cup (1400m), full of confidence.

He rode $3.40 favourite The Conqueror for Harden trainer Robert Leitner but finished last, 32.4 lengths off On Our Selection ($10).

The gelding was having his first start for Leitner, and was his first ever runner, and Owen didn’t believe he handled the conditions well.

“My one in the cup going to the races I actually thought was my best ride,” he said.

“He ran last and didn’t handle the track.

“He was previously trained in Victoria and used to going the other way, so on the tight track he just didn’t handle it.”