The Chris Crook & Imogen Miller-trained improver Tshahitsi broke through for his maiden stakes victory overnight at Launceston Racecourse continuing his gun form at the track in the Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap 2016.

A lightly-raced five-year-old son of Clangalang, the gelding lined-up for his sixth start at the course in Wednesday evening’s $100,000 Listed Wordsmith Newmarket Handicap (1200m) posting his fourth win.

Jumping a $12.40 shot in betting, Tshahitsi enjoyed a narrow upset over the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Red Prince ($8.30) and Barry Campbell’s multiple stakes champion Admiral ($4.80) to mark himself as a top sprinter to watch over the coming weeks.

Only a length separated the first four over the line in the early Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival black-type with the Scott Brunton-trained favourite Lord Da Vinci ($3.60) fourth past the post in the blanket finish.

Jockey Damien Thornton had his first ride on Tshahitsi in the Newmarket Handicap and guided the horse to his eight career win at start number 15 after coming from the back of the field to put himself into a winning position by the turn.

“My horse was travelling great turning for home but there was nowhere to go outside so I had to hope the runs would come,” Thornton told Tas Racing post-win.

“I opted to follow the rail and then leader Gee Gee Red Prince kicked I thought we were a chance then when he saw daylight close to home he horse just attacked the line. It was a very gutsy win.”

It was an improved effort on his last start fourth behind Hellova Street over 1100m at Hobart on Melbourne Cup Day.

Consistent Wordsmith four-year-old Gee Gee Red Prince was brave in defeat and looks set for another big campaign, while $600,000 earner Admiral will improve getting out over 1400m.

The beaten favourite Lord Da Vinic also lost few admirers in his maiden stakes run.

Tshahitsi’s co-trainer Miller was thrilled with the Newmarket Handicap result but was unsure where to next for the up-and-comer.

“We have always had a good opinion of this horse but we had to be patient and now he appears to have grown into himself and we expected him to do what he did tonight,” Miller said.

“We knew we were throwing him in at the deep end but we have been proven right by putting him in the race.

“We aren’t quite sure where we go from here but he’s won a Newmarket Handicap and it is one of the toughest sprint races to win in this state.”

Possible next-up options include the weight-for-age Listed Conquering Stakes (1400m) back at the track over more distance on December 7 or Hobart’s $100,000 Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) in early February, 2017.

For the hottest betting odds and options on the upcoming Tasmanian Summer Carnival features head to Ladbrokes.com.au now – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2016 Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap Results

Launceston Race 6 – 16/11/2016

Place	#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Br.	Wgt.	SP
1	13	TSHAHITSI	Chris Crook & Imogen Miller	Damien Thornton	–	3	54kg	$12.40
2	10	GEE GEE RED PRINCE	Stuart Gandy	Daniel Ganderton	0.4L	1	54kg	$8.30
3	2	ADMIRAL	Barry Campbell	Brendon McCoull	0.6L	10	59.5kg	$4.80
4	7	LORD DA VINCI	Scott Brunton	David Pires	1L	12	54kg	$3.60F
5	11	POWERCHARGED	John Blacker	Raquel Clark (a)	2L	2	54kg	$53
6	3	HELLOVA STREET	Scott Brunton	Dean Holland	2.1L	11	58.5kg	$9.90
7	6	GEEGEES GOLDENGIRL	Stuart Gandy	Ms Georgie Catania	2.2L	5	54kg	$57
8	8	ERIN’S ELEMENT	John Blacker	Jason Benbow	2.5L	4	54kg	$42.20
9	14	GEE GEES TOP NOTCH	Leon, Dean & Trent Wells	Ms Sigrid Carr	2.6L	9	54kg	$25.90
10	5	GEEGEES DOUBLEJAY	Stuart Gandy	Craig Newitt	3.4L	6	56kg	$8.40
11	12	SNIPPETEE BEE	Charlie Goggin & Luella Meaburn	Ismail Toker	4.2L	14	54kg	$196
12	9	JERILDERIE LETTER	Adam Trinder	Anthony Darmanin	6L	13	54kg	$6.60
13	1	GEEGEES BLACKFLASH	Leon, Dean & Trent Wells	Troy Baker	6.4L	7	61kg	$63
14	4	UP CUPS	David Brunton	Ms Stephanie Thornton (a)	6.5L	8	57kg	$99.80
–	17e	STEP THE PEDAL	Scott Brunton	Ms Stephanie Thornton (a)	–	0	–	–
–	16e	PRIVATE CURRENCY	Angela Brakey	Victor Wong (a)	–	0	–	–
–	15e	VANDERMEER	Alana Fulton	–	–	0	–	–