Grant kicked off proceedings with Salty Rain ($4) and then strapped for his son who scored with Haames to give Port Macquarie jockey Peter Graham a winning double.

Colt arrived from the Scone Sales just in time to see his three-year-old gelding notch its second win, both at Bushland Drive Racecourse, in eight starts in the Manning Valley Businessman’s Association Raceday June 8 Class 1 & Maiden Handicap over 1600m.

He spent $30,000 at the sales and secured horses by Sepoy, Al Maher and Bon Hoffa, half of which he has secured owners.

As for Haames, which came from second last to score by a neck, he said: “Pete (Graham) has a big wrap on him and thinks he will make a country cups horse.

“The girls didn’t want to ride him but Pete is happy and I think Haames could make a Grafton Guineas horse.”

Haames used to beat Salty Rain in work but the way his father’s three-year-old gelding has progressed, making it two wins in a row in the Wingham Services Club Wingham Cup June 1 Class 1 Handicap over 1250m, made for excitement in the family.

Graham was at the rear on the rails early, moved four-wide on the turn, to score running away by just under a length.

Salty Rain is by Youthful Legs out of Pauline’s Dancer and was bred by the trainer’s wife, Debbie Prosser, secretary of the Wauchope Jockey Club.

Graham said: “The horse is still green but is getting the job done.”

The training honours went to Newcastle’s premier mentor Kris Lees, who had a winning treble with Cordoned ($14 to $10), ridden by Louis Day; Winter Sonata ($2.30) and Heat Haze ($2.80), the latter two ridden by Aaron Bullock.

Cordoned was resuming from a spell and came from sixth early to score running away by about a neck in the Hydra Hose Class 3 Handicap over 1000m, much to the delight about 18 owners involved with the Australian Bloodstock four-year-old gelding bought for $24,000 off Godolphin.

The surprise was the galloper’s betting odds, considering it had won in the city.

One of the owners, Shane Boxwood, said the soft seven track helped the gelding’s suspect knees but they were confident of more city riches.

Bullock said  Winter Sonata’s just over two lengths win in the Saxbys Soft Drinks Maiden Plate, despite a mid-race scrimmage, showed she had more wins in store.

He also said Heat Haze had a lot better things in sight after its 2.6 lengths win in the Mid Coast Automotive Group Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1400m, most disappointing being local hope Blinkin Artie which was given a perfect run but failed to run on over he concluding stages in the race, a prelude to the $35,000 Wingham Cup on une 1.

Warwick Farm trainer Garry Neale made a rare trip to Taree and was rewarded with a solid 1.5 lengths win with three-year-old gelding Thirty Knots ($3.80), ridden by Adrian Layt, in the Become A Race Club Member Maiden Handicap over 1000m.

Punters, but not Gosford trainer Jim Louizos, were surprised with the just over a length win by four-year-old gelding Donald Krupt ($31), ridden a heady race by Jake Hull, in the Eddies Fresh Chickens Maiden Handicap over 1400m.