He may not be travelling interstate for the Inter Dominion but Tango Tara made it count on home soil at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday night.
The New Zealand import that is now trained in Victoria by Andy Gath, won the $60,000 Group 2 Breeders Crown Graduate Pacers Free-For-All.
With Gathās wife Kate at the reins, Tango Tara led throughout the feature but there were some concerning moments the driver admits, particularly when the favourite General Dodge was looming as a threat.
āHeās really lazy in front and I was a bit concerned as I know the speed of General Dodge but he rallied and got going again when he had one to race,ā said Kate.
āHe surprised me with how well he went tonight.
āIt was really good to get that win, especially in that race.ā
Tango Tara was winless in his previous six starts and subsequently was the second elect at starting odds of $3.70.
With the scratching of Willie Go West in barrier two, Tango Tara came into barrier five which changed the complexion of the race.
āWe were going to back with him but as soon as there was a scratching we changed our minds straight away and had to go forward,ā said Kate.
And that is exactly what happened.
Tango Tara went through the quarters in 30.6, 30, 27.6 and 26.8 seconds returning a mile rate of 1:55.6.
The gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance has now won five races in Australia.
He was nominated for the upcoming Inter Dominion series, however, the Gath stable withdrew all their nominations from the Grand Circuit series.
By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink