Debutant runner Tale Of The Gypsy continued the winning roll for the Stephen Marsh stable when she headed off stablemate Miss Moet All to take out the opening event at Te Aroha, the Graeme Wright Transport (1000m).

Although unseen at the trials before stepping out for the first time on race day on Saturday, the daughter of Written By had been spruiked as a major winning chance in the seven-horse field, starting a warm $2.90 favourite for the 1000m contest.

Awkwardly away for rider George Rooke, Tale Of The Gypsy raced three wide throughout before moving up to issue her challenge shortly after commencing the long run home.

Miss Moet All had raced to the lead at that point and looked to be holding her barn mare however Rooke got to work and the favourite lengthened stylishly to take control and win comfortably by a length and a half in a tidy 59.54 seconds on the Soft5 surface.

Marsh admitted to a few nerves before the race and was thrilled to see the filly live up to what she had shown connections leading into race day.

“She had to overcome a bad draw and didn’t have much luck,” Marsh said.

“She has shown us plenty at home and I was starting to get nervous before the race, but I think she is quite good.

“She has it all ahead of her that’s for sure.”

Marsh also praised the effort of Rooke to navigate some awkward moments during the running as he looks ahead to the next challenge for the filly, which will be to qualify for a start in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) on 25 January.

“I thought it was a good, cool and calm ride as he rode her like the best horse,” he said.

“She won’t get into the Karaka Million as yet, but if she won today the plan is to head to Ellerslie for the meeting on the 12^th of January to try and qualify her.

“The Karaka Million looks very open at the moment, so that’s where we will be heading if she comes through this one well.”

Rooke was also very complimentary about the performance of his mount.

“She had a lot to stand up to today, but in the paddock she looked the best by far,” he said.

“She didn’t have any trials and just a few jumpouts so she was very green throughout the race but her ability has got her home very nicely.

“She has all the ability to take her a lot further.”

Purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $180,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at Karaka last year, Tale Of The Cat comes from a family that includes her grand dam Gypsy Diamond, a multiple stakes winner in Australia.

The $10,360 prizemoney earned by Tale Of The Gypsy places her 22^nd on the current order of entry for the Karaka Million 2YO where prizemoney won determines the make-up of the final field of 14 starters plus six emergencies.