On Saturday, Mason and Cessnock jockey Robert Thompson won an open handicap in Newcastle with his other open company star, Sir Winalot.

“We pulled the right rein,” Mason said.

“It’s not very often it happens like that. But it worked out well, taking Winnie to Newcastle and Laogan here.”

The many kilometres Mason covered in travelling to firstly Newcastle, back to Tamworth and then to Grafton yesterday morning weren’t as onerous as they appeared, Mason said.

“I think he’s the first starter I’ve ever had in the South Grafton Cup too,” Mason said of a gelding who won by two and three quarter lengths from Come In Spanner (9-2) with Stormy Lee (20-1) a length and a quarter away third.

Race favourite With A Chance (6-4) was fourth, with Tamworth’s other Cup starter, San Carlo (16-1), fifth and Moonbi gelding Sable Island (25-1) sixth.

It was Laogan’s third win for Mason and co-owner Kevin Johnson since they bought the Peintre Celebre gelding from Melbourne for $20,000 on the advice of respected veterinarian John Peatfield.

“John rang us up the other day after his run at Tamworth (6th) and said he didn’t want to be sticking his beak in but we were riding him wrong,” Mason said.

“John said Laogan had won his races down in Melbourne because of his high cruising speed. He’d get out and lead.

“Robert (Thompson) rode him at Tamworth and also said he thought he would have won if he could have led.

“So we let him roll along today.

“Robert said he probably would have won by six lengths if Spriggsy (Jenks) hadn’t taken us on.”

So Mason thanked Peatfield and Thompson for their advice and celebrated his gelding’s sixth win while plotting his next run.

“We might go to Sydney or Brisbane,” he said.

“He’ll get weighted out of bush races and there’s nothing around.”

However it turns out the Coffs Harbour Cup has been cut back in distance to 1600m and will be run on August 7.

“That looks pretty good,” Mason said when confirmed of its distance and date.

“How much is that worth?” he asked.

$70,000 was the answer.

“Yeah, that’ll work in well. That or Brisbane probably, see how they look.”

Mason was also delighted to be a part of Thompson’s race to most wins.

“I think he said he’s got five or six to catch Jack Thompson now,” he said of a 3322 milestone.

“He’s certainly ridden some winners over the past few days – four here last Thursday, a double at Newcastle yesterday and another double so far today.”