Moresby trainer Robert Johnston had come south in  unfortunate circumstances  but managed to get a silver lining and turn it into gold at the club’s first meet of the year.

In the region to help look after his sick mother, the trainer brought his dogs with him from the small town just south of Innisfail, and has been touring the NSW courses.

Cabochon likes to lead from the front, and did just that in the Gunnedah Council Fifth Grade Stakes over 512m.

“I have just been stepping him up from 300m to 400m and now to 500m,” Johnston said.

“I expected him to go really well and he did.”

He did too, jumping first from the outside box, finding the rail first and never relinquishing his spot to beat Stan Stanford’s Lachlan’s Belle by two lengths, with Troy Cooper’s Cosmic Haley the same margin back in third.

“I have been running him into form for four weeks straight,” Johnston said.

“He has picked up three thirds since his last win so it is a nice change to win.”

After seeing the form of his runner over the distance, Johnston is in no hurry to give the three-year-old black dog a break.

“He will be back here again next week for the 500m.

“I am going to bring a couple more as well. Where I go the dogs go too.”