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By Doug Ryan

Wauchope’s Grant Prosser and his son, Colt, grabbed a winning double as trainers at Manning Valley Race Club’s TAB meeting at Taree on Monday.

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 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 already has owners for.

As for Haames, which came from second last to score by a neck, he said ”Pete 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 and 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.

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

The training honours went to Newcastle’s  premier mentor Kris Lees who had a winning treble with Cordoned ($14 to $10, ridden by Louise 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.

After Winter Sonata’s two-length win in the Saxby’s Soft Drinks Maiden Plate, despite a mid-race scrimmage, jockey Aaron Bullock declared she had more wins in store. He also said Heat Haze had better things in sight after her 2.6 -length win in the Mid Coast Automotive Group Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1400m.

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

Punters, but not Gosford trainer Jim Louizos, were surprised by the victory of four-year-old gelding Donald Krupt ($31) in the Eddies Fresh Chickens Maiden Handicap over 1400m.

View all the replays of Taree's Monday meeting here.