As is the case over every Christmas period the Grafton trainers now become more like the Leyland Brothers with road trips required for every race meeting for eight weeks with the Grafton tracks closed for its annual renovation.
This year it may be even more of an issue with extra travelling as three race meetings have already becoming casualties of the big wet.
Nevertheless two Grafton stables made the extra trip to Murwillumbah on Tuesday with positive results.
Leading trainer John Shelton was again in the winners circle when Cassia Lane scored a solid victory in the Maiden 1200m..
In what was a brilliant ride by the inform Luke Rolls Cassia Lane settled third the fence before Rolls took advantage of inside run coming to the home turn to be in front as heads were turned for home. Once in that position Rolls headed to the outside fence to be first to the better going and Cassia Lane did the rest.
The other Grafton winner for the day was in the final event when the Wayne Lawson trained Lady Clare scored an easy win in the BM 58 1000m.
In what was almost an action replay of the Rolls ride earlier in the day except Cornish still had runners to her outside and could only get to the middle of the track.
Wayne Lawson explained after the race it had been a tough road back to the winners circle for Lady Clare who had suffered a bleed after her last win in July 2020 and was then ready for the breeding barn after being badly galloped on in a race at Taree in June of this year. It just goes to show how important patience can be in the preparation of a winner.
Cassia Lane finds the fast lane at Murwillumbah on Tuesday
