The first three were run in a track rated a heavy 10 with jockeys returning to scale covered in mud.

They agreed to ride in race one to test the conditions and to continue with races two and three but, after the third, the decision was taken not to continue.

Chief steward Shane Cullen said safety was of prime importance, however the conditions were not allowing for competitive racing with the margins from first to last continually increasing.

The fate of the remainder of the meeting, including the Queen Of The Valley Matchmaker, will be decided after consolation with Racing NSW.

**

FORMER English apprentice Rachael King branded the conditions among the worst she had ridden in despite scoring an easy win on the Bill Farrow-trained Macmissile in the Monaco Consul @ Kingstar Farm Class One and Maiden (1750m).

“It is never this bad at home,” King said.

Macmissile however revelled in the conditions and will be returning to Muswellbrook in two week’s time.

“He is coming back for another race over 1750m and I just hope the wet weather stays around,” Farrow said.

“This is his fourth run on a heavy track for two wins and two placings.

“He just loves it.”

King settled Macmissile in second place early, went to the lead down the side and went right away to win by six and three quarter lengths from Charlie Royale.  

Macmissile will be returning for the Class Three with the feature race the Sandy Hollow Sprint (1000m).

That will be the first meeting in NSW along with Goulburn to offer minimum of prizemoney of $20,000 per race.

**

A SMART ride from Greg Ryan led to the former Gai Waterhouse-trained four-year-old Mystery finally breaking into the winner’s circle in the Ad Valorem @ Cangon Stud Maiden (1500m).

“It was the ride that won him the race,” trainer Ken Lantry said.

Ryan let Mystery drop out to second last early to conserve energy on the very heavy track before finishing down the extreme outside to win by a length from Roethlisberger.

That was Mystery’s third run for Lantry after the horse was bought from John Singleton following three unplaced runs for Waterhouse.

“He is really well bred but he is a horse with plenty of tricks,” Lantry said.

“His second run at Newcastle appeared to be alright when he ran fourth but I was a bit disappointed with it when he got his head up.

“I will just keep him to country racing and he obviously likes heavy tracks.”

**

APPRENTICE Taylor Marshall was the only clean rider to return to scale after Takover Tiger led all the way to win the Salade @ Kingstar Farm Three Year Old Maiden (1000m).

That followed the three-year-old’s debut run when second at Hawkesbury on May 31.

“He had four trials leading up to that run and he showed us enough to suggest it was worth taking him to Hawkesbury,” trainer Craig Roberts said.

“He had every chance but it was still a good run. He took a lot out of that race and at this stage we will keep him to races around this area.”