New Zealand bred three-year-old filly Shartin powered her way to an emphatic harness racing win in the Cripps Waratah Tasmanian Oaks over 2579 metres in Hobart last night.
The Victorian filly settled last from her wide front-row draw but inside a lap her driver Chris Alford sent the daughter of Tintin In America around the field to find the lead.
From there on it was a procession with the filly forging clear turning for home and she went on to score by almost 12 metres from El Jays Mystery that faced the breeze throughout with Playing Arkabella a half-head away third.
It was Alford's third drive aboard the filly and he said she was always travelling like the winner.
"I was mindful that this filly can do a few things wrong if she has to race wide so I dropped her out to last and then whipped around them early on and she was able to find the front without having to spend too much gas," Alford said.
"Dean Braun paid about $50,000 for this filly in New Zealand but I'm sure she will pay her way.
"She is still learning what it's all about but tonight she did everything right and she had the race won a long way from home.
Shartin is owned by a syndicate that includes Tasmanian Dean Richards who is overseas on business.
Alford said Shartin was likely to head to the heats of the Victorian Oaks next month.
Shartin has won three of her five starts with this latest her most impressive and the $15,000 prizemoney took her career earnings to just beyond $25,000.
It was Alford's fourth Tasmanian oaks having been successful on Concorde Lombo in 1997, Itz Nosurprisesthere (2013) and last year aboard Dancingwithsierra.
Peter Staples