Talented pacer I Am Camelot returned to harness racing with a brilliant all-the-way win in a C1 event over 2090 metres at Luxbet Park Hobart on Sunday night.
The Deborah Williams-trained gelding made the most of a front-row draw to lead from gate three and once in front the six-year-old was rated superbly by Gareth Rattray.
I Am Camelot had not started since December last year but a good performance in a recent trial was enough to give punters confidence to back the gelded son of Safari in to start the $3.80 favourite.
"This horse has loads of ability and I think the long break has been good for him," Williams said.
"He has always been a horse that gets all worked up at the races and tonight was no exception but overall it was a good result.
"We will continue to run him in Hobart because he races well here."
Rattray said the horse raced fiercely early but ha d settled well enough under restraint to win the race.
"I'll just keep working him through the classes but we are hoping this will be his best season.
"We could have brought him back to racing sooner but we opted to concentrate on a few other younger horses and I think the extra time away from racing as done him the world of good."
Peter Staples