The five-year-old mare was an impressive winner of the 4YO-and-upward Maiden Plate (1100m) at Armidale on Friday, much to the delight of local trainer Matthew O’Meara taking just his second race win.

“I can’t believe it,” the ecstatic trainer said. “I’m just a bush trainer and don’t know much about the caper - but I’m bloody happy.”

After moving his stable from Coffs Harbour to Glen Innes in November, O’Meara has slowly been putting the miles into Tatts Star. Her last two runs at Glen Innes and Deepwater had been “okay”, according to O’Meara.

“She needed to lead in her races and it was just a matter of finding the right race where she could do that.” he said.

“She doesn’t have a big sprint so we need her up the front so she can grind away.”

Tatts Star (15-1) managed to find the lead from barrier one and despite plenty of pressure in the home straight, she held on to win by a long neck.

The ride was a pick up for 18-year-old apprentice jockey Ricky Baldwin of Gunnedah after Kelly Gates was unable to ride due to illness.

Tatt’s Star paid $16.80 on the NSW TAB. For her tenth start she has now accumulated $7200 in career prize money.