Ontick, by Aces N Sevens, was having only his third start and clocked a mile rate of 2.01.4 on his way to a 6-1/2 metre win. Trainer Eric Jacobson said the gelding showed a lot of promise last season but never made it to the races.

"It's taken a while to get this horse right but I'm sure he'll keep on improving now that we've got him sorted out," Jacobson said.

"He was bombing along nicely early on but then all of a sudden he stopped doing all the good things that you want young horses to do. He ran a fair fourth on debut four weeks ago but his next start was very average but I changed a bit of gear and it seems to have done the trick," he said.

Ontick, who is out of Ticket To Heaven mare, Missys Ticket is owned by the trainer's daughter Laura Jacobson in partnership with Mrs. Helen Millar and her son Brent.

"It's been a real patience game with this horse so it was great to see him win so impressively," Mrs. Millar said.

"We bred the mother of this horse (Missys Ticket) so that makes this win special," she said.

Mrs. Millar is originally from Taranaki in New Zealand when she had an interest in harness racing from a young age due to some family involvement in the sport. Jacobson said Ontick would most likely have his next start in Hobart on November 30.

Peter STAPLES