Cumberland had been on the four-year-old for wins at Taree on May 23 and at Port on June 19 and was looking forward to another win before the mishap on another Neil Godbolt-trained galloper, Sensational Song, before the first race.

He landed heavily when the three-year-old gelding reared and was taken by ambulance to hospital with a knee injury.

But all was okay and he managed to return to the track to see Coffs Harbour hoop Raymond Spokes guide Laredo Hussler ($8.50 to $6) to an all-the-way win by 2.25 lengths in the Eddies Fresh Chickens Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1412m in a class record.

No sooner had Cumberland watched the impressive win, he left the track sorely bruised in frame and in spirit.

Chief stipendiary steward Drew Smith said the win “rubbed salt in the wound (for Cumberland) by watching the race.”

Spokes said he was “lucky” to pick up the ride but “it was a horrible way to get it.”

Godbolt was surprised how easy Laredo Hussler got the lead and reported that the last three wins had occurred with the gelding wearing blinkers and keeping it to shorter races with more rest between runs.

The trainer grabbed a winning double, he earlier seeing five-year-old gelding Poet’s Trick ($8.50) also lead all the way for jockey Alison Threadwell in the MJR Accountants Entires & Geldings Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1257m on a day where leaders dominated on the eight-race card conducted by Taree Wingham Race Club on a good-rated track.

The gelding,owned by a Kempsey syndicate of business people headed by vet Andrew Bennett,came from the outside barrier to record Threadwell’s first win since coming back from a racetrack injury.

“It has been a long time between drinks for the syndicate but along with Holy Weeva (two wins in a row),they have a few good things going for them,” Godbolt said.

The double gave Godbolt 38 wins for the season.

Boom Port three-year-old gelding Laurentian ($2.50), trained by John Sprague, was also aiming for three wins in a row on the Bushland Drive track but that feat by .75 of a length went to Wyong filly Alaskan Wolf ($15) which was resuming from a spell for trainer,part-owner Norman Rogers.

She had won her first two races at Taree in August and returned,after two unplaced runs at Canterbury and Hawkesbury late last year, with the win, coming from just off the pace.

Laurentian was taken on in front and tended to hang over the concluding stages after a tough run.

The Elders Real Estate Maiden Plate over 1257m,the race in which Sensational Song was scratched after dumping Cumberland and careering around the track before the start,was won by a neck by the $1.90 favourite,three-year-old gelding Background Scalper, trained at Newcastle by Kris Lees and ridden by Aaron Bullock, in a class record.

The two again combined to register another class record with Rupavari ($4.40) which scored by 2.25 lengths in the Taree Taxis Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate.

Lees had accepted with four gallopers,two were scratched,and the other two gave him wins for a perfect day.

Easiest win of the afternoon was recorded by Gosford three-year-old gelding Mr Snowman ($2.70), trained by Gordon Yorke and ridden by his four kilo claiming 25-year-old Hong Kong apprentice Eric Cheung for his second win,first at the track.

It scored by 3.5 lengths in the CJ Hogan & Company Maiden Handicap over 1007m.

Mr Snowman,owned by Yorke, Kaz Saunders and Geoff Lynam, badly injured the trainer and put him in hospital for five days when being broken in last year.

Port jockey Peter Graham shot three-year-old gelding Rainbow River ($6), trained at Taree by Bob Milligan, to the lead on the turn and had 1.75 lengths to spare on the line in the Cleavers Tyres Country Class 1 Plate over 1614m.

Four-year-old mare Darbies Blugirl ($10) ,trained and part owned by Barry Lawrence from Newcastle and ridden by Matt Bennett,also set a class record in scoring by a long neck in the Stacks Law Firm Fillies & Mares Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1257m.