He won with Time Raid in the first race, the TAB Handicap over 1412m, and then backed up in the fourth, the Wingham Services Club F&M Maiden Plate over 1257m, to score with well-bred Lochita.

The eight runners in the fifth were parading in the enclosure when lightning, claps of thunder, small hail stones and heavy rain descended on the race track.

Chief Mid North Coast steward Jack Penfold ordered them back to their saddling stalls in the hope of a break in the weather but after about 20 minutes the meeting was abandoned due to the conditions and state of the track which was a heavy nine when racing started.

Four-year-old gelding Time Raid, owned near Newcastle by breeder Mick Stacey and his wife, was given the run of the race by jockey Andrew Gibbons and scored by just over a length from Port Macquarie's Mister Smartee, trained by Tas Morton.

The fourth foal from Marauding mare Summer Raid is related to her third foal Our Ticket which also won at Taree.

Stacey has bred many racehorses and winners and was a little concerned at the start as Time Raid in October buck-jumped in a race and had to retrial to the satisfaction of stewards.

"He jumped okay and then stalked the leaders (fourth)until given his head in the straight."

Deamer said Gibbons told him that Time Raid tracked well into the race but was "a thinker" in the run to the line.

Port gelding Chamisal, trained by John Sprague, was fourth and its run in the conditions under its weight was solid and its aim continues to be the $150,000 heat of the Country Championships over 1400m at Taree on February 23.

Four-year-old mare Lochita, by Lonhro out of Encosta de Lago mare Inchita, was sold for over $200,000 as a yearling and part-owner Dean Watt of Dynamic Syndications Racing Thoroughbreds had his wish for a win delivered, albeit narrowly, with his specially selected jockey Christian Reith on board.

The mare wasn't exactly home in the going but toughed it out for a half-neck win from Wyong trainer Kim Waugh's filly Toguchi, ridden by Darryl McLellan.

"The other hope skipped away and it was a good tough win," Deamer said.

"The mare is very valuable with her breeding in being a broodmare."

Taree three-year-old filly Gold Bracelet may have been beaten more than 20 lengths in a trial but there was plenty of faith among mostly Harrington owners and part-owner-trainer Ross Dawson that she would run well-scoring by just over two lengths in the Trackside Photography Maiden Handicap over 1005m.

"They ran 57.3 secondss in the trial at Kempsey and you don't win races in trials," Dawson said.

"The only query was the wet track but she has shown plenty of ability."

One of the owners, Gordon Field, recently only had plaster on a damaged leg removed and he was "dancing" with excitement.

Another happy trainer was Port's Allan Kehoe who won nicely in getting good odds on his three-year-old gelding Deep Dream which scored by two lengths in the Friday, January 31 races at Taree CG&E Maiden Plate over 1257m.

It was ridden by Port's jockey-trainer Robert Agnew who in the past few weeks had done a lot of work with the gelding which was having its second start.

Racing returns to Taree for a TAB meeting on Friday, January 31.

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