Leading trainer John Shelton started the Grafton year off well with a winner at his home track on Sunday but was back in the truck and up the mountain to one of his happy hunting grounds Armidale on Monday and with a happy result.
Shelton took a two pronged attack west and came home with one winner in Cassia Lane which was having her first start from a spell.
Ridden by Luke Rolls Cassia Lane settled well back in the field in the 1100m BM 58 but a very patient ride by Rolls saw the mare save heaps of ground in the run to the turn with Rolls switching off heels near the 300m to work between runners and find the top just short of the line.
Cassia Lane has proven to better suited over longer courses so with a good first up win Cassia Lane may be in for a solid preparation.
