Its Tango time for Tara

Tango Tara (A Rocknroll Dance) made a belated return to the harness racing winner’s stall at Melton when he led all the way in the $25,000 Del Re National Italian Cup.

Favorite backers were delivered an early broadside at the meeting when the $1.60 favorite Perfect Class galloped after appearing to be tightened heading into the first turn and settled down at the rear of the field. 

Meanwhile Kate Gath was allowed to dictate the terms of the race to suit herself on Tango Tara as the leader was joined by stablemate Yambukian before increasing the tempo with a 28 back straight quarter. 

In the run to the line Tango Tara ($9) was untroubled to score by three metres from Yambukian to give the Andy Gath stable a  feature race quinella. 

The win was the eight- year- old’s first at headquarters since April last year. 

Kate Gath steered Tango Tara to success in the 69th running of the Del Re Italian Cup for trainer Andy Gath at Melton. pic.twitter.com/C1Fma0F6dX

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) June 15, 2024

“It is   really good to get a win with him finally as he’s knocked on the door a few times but hasn’t quite got there, drawing two in the random barrier draw made all the difference,” Kate Gath said after the race. 

Gath acknowledged Tango Tara hasn’t won out of turn in recent months. 

“He tends to go best in faster mile rates, he’s a bit of a funny horse as he doesn’t win as often as you think but I thought he was good tonight and it’s probably the biggest winning margin he’s had for a while,” she said.  

“He generally knocks off the last little bit or has one get to him.” 

Gath said Tango Tara was unlikely to join exodus of pacers heading north for the Queensland Constellations at Albion Park later this month. 

“We’ll just stay here as he earns just about every time he goes around even from bad draws,  and you can’t complain about that,” she said. 

Tango Tara has now exceeded $350,000 in stake earnings and the win was his 16th career success which has been punctuated with 37 placings.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink