Mason hopes to plan winter assault with stable pair

By Glenn Davis

It’s been almost 30 years since former Victorian trainer Jim Mason hit the big time by winning the Group 1 Caulfield Cup with Arctic Scent.

A lot of heartbreak and tears have since flowed as Mason struck troubled times.

But, now, Mason is back on top of the world training on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as the private trainer for owner and breeder Michael Sherrin.

Mason is hoping his talented filly Shadwell Lane and recent maiden winner Wootten Hyde are progressive enough to make it to the Queensland Racing Carnival next year as neither are eligible for the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January.

Shadwell Lane lines up in the Listed Mode Stakes while Wootten Hyde will attempt to give Mason back-to-back wins in the Pierata Plate at Doomben on Saturday.

Mason ended a decade away from training when Street Chase ploughed through the heavy going to win the Pierata Plate at the corresponding Doomben meeting last year.

“Wootten Hyde only won his maiden at Doomben last start but I’m hoping he’s good enough to make it to the winter carnival next year,” Mason said.

“He was bought at the New Zealand breeze up sales and he works like a really nice horse.

“He gives me the impression there’s a really nice race in him so he might go to the (Listed) Gold Edition Plate next start.”

Mason also expects a strong performance from Shadwell Lane who is coming off a last start fifth to the Chris Anderson-trained Get Ready Lass over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast last month.

Shadwell Lane broke her maiden status at her previous outing at Doomben.

“I thought her last run when she finished fifth was very good,” Mason said.

“It was a nice kick board into this race and had she drawn better I think she would have finished a lot closer.

“Unfortunately, she also is not Magic Millions but winning black-type like this race is very important for her breeding prospects.

“It’s all about black-type for a filly like her as her owner Michael Sheerin breeds from a lot of his horses.”

Mason will take it race-by-race with Shadwell Lane after her Doomben assignment and may target the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate over 1300 metres at Eagle Farm on January 3.

“It’ll mean taking on the boys, but the Vo Rogue might be a nice race for her,” he said.