His winners – Blinkin Artie and Leiladane – were ridden by Port Macquarie apprentice Cejay Graham and Taree’s Scott Thurlow; two hoops who had just returned from race accidents.

Graham said of her first winner since breaking her wrist in a race fall at Grafton in November: “I am relieved…it is so good to be back.”

This was despite returning to scale after the saddle on the three-year-old gelding slipped in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1312m.

Graham took advantage of her ace barrier to sit just behind the favourite, Newcastle’s Jack’s Bar, trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Aaron Bullock, and when it moved wide on the turn she scooted along the fence to beat that galloper by a half-length.

Stitt said Blinkin Artie had made it four wins this campaign but he was worried whether the gelding would carry his big weight, with the galloper not being overly big.

“The horse has a load of ability and Cejay rode him a treat,” he said.

The win “will pick up no end” its Tamworth owner Errol French who is battling cancer and had a fall at home on race morning.

Thurlow had Leiladane up on the speed from its nine barrier to score by a half-length in the Maiden Handicap over 1312m after three placings from 15 starts.

Stitt said the addition of ear muffs pre-race only had an “unbelievable” result on the mare’s temperament, allowing her to relax.

“She has had a lot of setbacks and injuries and is just coming right.”

Thurlow was injured on a Stitt runner and had only been back a few weeks riding again.

He was on Stitt’s Editors which was beaten by about two lengths by Warwick Farm three-year-old gelding Bold Dapper which made it two wins in a row at the track for Gregory Hickman in the Saturday Races On April 7 Class 2 Handicap over 1257m.

Stitt’s fourth placegetter, consistent mare Natural Image was beaten nearly three lengths by three-year-old filly Exellas, from the strong combination of Lees and Bullock in the Maiden Plate over 1007m.

Five-year-old local mare Lobban Hood, trained, owned and bred by Robert Barnes, went straight to the lead for apprentice jockey Chloe Baker in the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1007m and was never headed to score easily by nearly two lengths.

Muswellbrook trainer Andrew Robinson, brother of local trainer Matthew Robinson, had his first win at Taree with three-year- old gelding Lord Whiskey.

It was ridden by Ben Looker, in the Maiden Plate over 1614m, scoring by a neck from the favourite Neruda, trained at Gosford by Kristen Buchanan.

Not leaving the fence aided a neck win from three-year-old filly Classy Anna, resuming for Wyong trainer Allan Denham and ridden by Robert Thompson, in the Class 1 Handicap over 1007m.

The most thrilling finish of the meeting gave a nose win to four-year-old mare No Effort Needed, trained by good strike rate mentor Jason Deamer from Newcastle and ridden a heady race by apprentice Louise Day, in the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1614m.

Syndicate head owner James Lovegrove said another win with Diamond Deluxe at Cessnock during the week had the stable ticking over beautifully.