Courage shines in Oaks win

Novice pulls right rein in triumph for Ghadastar

VICTORIAN pacer Ghadastar celebrated her first feature race win when she produced a courageous performance to take out the Tasmanian Oaks over 2579m in Hobart last night.

Ghadastar ($1.85) settled third but when novice driver Troy McDonald became unhappy with the tempo set by his main rival Ideal Bliss ($2.75), he eased his filly off the peg line to face the breeze where she remained until the field entered the home straight the last time.

Ideal Bliss kicked clear at the top of the straight but under strong driving from McDonald, Ghadastar dug deep and forged to the lead close to home to defeat Giftofjoy ($5.50), that flashed home along the sprint lane, by a long head with Ideal Bliss a close-up third.

Ghadastar is trained at Sunbury by Ahmed Taiba who also celebrated his first feature race win in Tasmania.

“We set this filly for the Tasmanian Oaks about eight weeks ago and everything worked out as we had hoped,” Taiba said.

“She arrived here just over two weeks ago to tackle the 3YO Fillies Championship and she almost got up and defeated Ideal Bliss in that race, but we were very happy with her effort.

“We’ve had her stabled at Juanita McKenzie’s stables at Magra and she has been absolutely wonderful looking after the filly and I must make a special mention of her son Noah who took special care of her.”

Taiba said there was a race for the filly in Launceston next week and that will end her Tasmanian campaign.

“If she pulls up well she will go to Launceston next week and then home to prepare for her long-term goal which is the Queensland Oaks,” he said.

There is no doubt the minor placegetters are destined to win more races.

Ideal Bliss has already proven her worth as a top pacing two-year-old.

This was her first defeat from four starts this season while Giftofjoy was having her fifth start and only her second in Tasmania since arriving from New Zealand for a third in the 3YO Fillies Championship and this latest effort. STAR CHAMBER returned to his best to win the time-honoured Governor’s Cup over 2090m.

With Dylan Ford in the cart, Star Chamber came from last turning for home to score from Victorian horse Lets Elope and Queens Advocate with Isaac a close-up fourth.

Destreos was attempting to notch his 100th win.

But after leading he was swamped over the final 80m to finish fifth.