The daughter of St Reims had her first public hit-out for new trainer Amber Hoffman over 800m at the jumpouts, sitting midfield before finishing over the top of race winner All Jokes Aside.
Now 4, she had her early education with Canterbury trainer Brian Court, who gave her two trials - one as a late 2yr-old in July last year and another a month later in which she finished third.
''She had jumped and run and just got run down in the last bit in those trials, so it was nice today to come from behind,'' Hoffman said.
A 1200m maiden at Oamaru next Thursday is the most likely target for Step Inside Love, Hoffman said.
Shantav returned from a short spell with a tidy last 200m to win the 1000m open heat.
Trainer Barbara Verlinden had the son of Tavistock for the tail end of his last campaign, but has now had the 5yr-old for about three months to prepare him for this season.
''He had a bit of a break, and we took our time a little bit to get him going,'' Verlinden said.
''I'm quite happy with the way he's feeling.''
Verlinden will possibly look for a start for Shantav over the next few weeks. He hit the line well to get the better of Back In The Day.
Back In The Day's co-trainer, Michael White, said the gelding had been disappointing in his past two starts and yesterday's jumpouts meeting was the 6yr-old's last chance, but a change of bit helped him yesterday.
Back In The Day prefers rain-affected tracks, which may restrict the options for him in the next few months.
Apprentice jockey Sha (Syahir) Wahab had his first jumpout ride for his new employer, Terry Kennedy, yesterday.
Wahab (24) arrived at Wingatui at the start of October, keen to try his luck with gaining race-day rides in the south.
Wahab is no stranger to winning on the track, having won aboard A Lot In Hand at Kranji in Singapore last November.
He came out from Singapore to New Zealand in June to expand his horizons.
''It's a bit tough in Singapore - we have all those good jockeys - but it's a learning experience for me to come here to New Zealand,'' he said.
''So I'll just get a bit better and hopefully become a better jockey.''
He was originally apprenticed to Kevin Myers but it was suggested he head south for more chances to ride. Terry Kennedy was keen to take him on with track rider and jumps rider KC Walters moving to Australia with Wingatui jockey Toni Direen later this month.
''It will give me a lot more opportunities down here,'' Wahab said.
''I just need to get some exposure and get to know the trainers here and get a few rides then get going with some winners.''
A 2yr-old Onceuponatime-Look At Moiye gelding produced a smart gallop for trainer Steve Tyler to win the opening heat over 600m in 35.06.
Results.-
Weather, overcast; track, slow; inner grass.
600m inexperienced: 2g Onceuponatime-Look at Moiye C Campbell 1, Mossy Creek 2, Turbulence 3. Three started. Time: 35.06. ½L, 1½L. Trainer: S Tyler.
800m maiden: Step Inside Love T Direen 1, All Jokes Aside (open) 2, Precious Harmony 3. Five started. Time: 52.80. ½L, 4½L. Trainer: A Hoffman.
1000m maiden: Raise You Ten C Barnes 1, Westend Madam 2, Our Star Anise 3. Four started. Time: 1.03.81. 3½L, ½hd. Trainers: B & S Anderton.
1000m open: Shantav R Roy 1, Back In The Day 2, Kona 3. Seven started. Time: 1.02.42. ½L, 3L. Trainer: B Verlinden.
