Upset win by Windy Hill Tara in $200,000 NSW Oaks

Outsider Windy Hill Tara (Betting Line) earned a spot alongside some of our greatest harness racing fillies with an upset win in tonight’s $200,000 John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks final at Club Menangle.

With betting for last week’s heat winner Kahlua Flybye dominating betting, Windy Hill Tara was sent out the amazing odds of about 20-1 before scoring a barnstorming five and a quarter metre win over Soho Seraphine with bolter Eve Crocker a head back in third place in a 1:55.5 mile rate.

WINDY HILL TARA REPLAY

The lightly-raced Windy Hill Tara, by Betting Line out of Miss Artistic Tara was having just her sixth race start and driver Amanda Turnbull admitted that may have worked out in favour of the filly.

“She’s just so professional,” said Amanda as she returned to a rousing reception from the Turnbull clan.

“She’s an awesome horse to work with.

“She just took it all in her stride tonight . I thought she might have been struggling a bit on the turn but she really picked up the bit and I knew she’d keep going. She’s pretty tough.

“Having that time off has probably worked in her favour.

“I haven’t won a big race for Dad for ages so this feels pretty good.”

Naturally Amanda’s father, champion trainer Steve Turnbull agreed.

“We did have a setback with her and we gave her a bit of time and she’s come out better for the time off,” said the veteran Bathurst horseman who prepared the mighty Smooth Satin to win a Miracle Mile.

Windy Hill Tara joins horses like Miss Hondo (1972), Toliver Gigi (1979), Gloomy Lass ((1981), Gliding Princess (1983), Jane Ellen (1`989), Yeronga Songbird (1996) and Foreal (2005) who have won this classic race first contested in 1956.

For complete race results, click here.

From Club Menangle