"The fifth horse (Leica Alot) was beaten a neck," he said.

The official margin for the winner was a nose in front of Running Reign, a short-head to Magic Reigns, with Good Party slotted in front of Leica Alot.

As for the return of form of Igotthelastone, Smith said its previous run was one of the best he had seen, although the eight-year-old gelding finished eighth, beaten 2.4 lengths, on that occasion.

Backing up his summation, his report said: "Over-raced badly during the early and middle stages."

Then when presented at the next meeting, Igotthelastone was a late scratching: "Found to be lame in the near foreleg. Vet clearance required. Received."

That was on August 21.

Time to recover, a change of rider and everything fell into place for the win.

"He's been up for about 12 months and loves racing - what do you do with him," said Stitt.

"He's a lovely old horse."

As for Figure Dancer? "I thought it was the bet of the day - he didn't get out last start (finished 1.3 lengths fifth to Shrewd Move).

"His last win was on Taree Cup day last year."

Stitt is looking forward to Tamworth owner Errol French sending him a half-brother to Figure Dancer, a two-year-old by Falvelon, to train in the next week or so.

Darryl in the dumps

Broadmeadow jockey Darryl McLellan wasn't in the mood to talk to the press after not one of his happiest of visits to Taree.

First he had just jumped on four-year-old gelding Oakfield Royal in the saddling enclosure when it reared and he was thrown off, injurying an ankle before the first race.

He recovered sufficiently to again take the mount and got some consolation with Oakfield Royal winning by a half-head.

And he wasn't in the mood for talking when he went to weigh-in.

His next ride was in the third race on heavily-backed favourite, Broadmeadow trainer Paul Perry's Enivrer.

McLellan was settled in the starting gates when the four-year-old mare reared and threw him backwards, again injurying an ankle, but this time the pain was such that he and the horse were late scratchings from the race.

Then to add insult to injury, he had to forgo the late riding engagement on six-year-old Gosford gelding Un Autre in race six.

It bolted in, ridden by Port's Matt Bennett, by two lengths in what could have been a winning ride for McLellan.

Tas a lonely figure

Port Macquarie trainer Tas Morton was a lonely figure as far as connections were concerned to cheer the win of three-year-old gelding Tivoli Beau, perhaps one of the smartest wins of the meeting.

His long-time partner in racehorses, Bob Laing and the new additions to the ownership, a syndicate of 20 mates from Finnians Tavern weren't trackside.

"They just called me from the pub to say they watched it at Finnians.

"They lifted the roof off the pub with their cheers," said Morton.

Move a success

Wauchope Jockey Club's first TAB meeting at Taree, thanks to co-operation from Taree-Wingham Race Club, was a big success with betting on the meeting being just over $1.2 million.

The club was forced to seek the new venue due to repair work being carried out on the track at Port Macquarie as that club prepares for its Port Macquarie Cup Carnival.

Wauchope not only got a better deal financially from Taree-Wingham for use of its facilities but the betting turnover covered prizemoney for the extended nine races of the meeting.

It was surprising that so many racegoers supported the meeting, another help financially.

So why doesn't Wauchope use Taree more often?

"We have to keep faith with our local sponsors," said club president Bob Graham.

After all, these are the sponsors who support the club's meetings through thick and thin and at the club's home meetings at Wauchope.

(Doug Ryan will preview Monday's TAB meeting at Taree in Friday's edition)