The tough New Zealand-bred pacer ran his rivals into the deck to win the $A500,000 feature by more than 14m and smash the Melton track record in the process.
In August, the Bettor’s Delight stallion and his trainer, Kevin Pizzuto, were left shaken when their horsefloat was rammed by a car that was driven through a stop sign.
Pizzuto said when he found Tiger Tara he thought the horse had broken his neckin the wrecked float. On Saturday night, they got the ultimate reward when Tiger Tara bolted awayto win for driver Todd McCarthy.
"We are both lucky to be alive," Pizzuto said of the accident.
"The horse is just unbelievable. We have gone through hell the last few months.
"I was mentally and physically messed up from the accident, but I pulled through.
"But all credit to the horse and to Toddy."
The win gave Pizzuto — who, unlike so many in harness racing, was not born into the industry or taught by a master trainer — with the ultimate victory of his training career.
Tiger Tara stopped the clock in 3min 15.3sec, 0.4sec faster than Lazarus’s track-record-breaking time in the Hunter Cup in February. McCarthy took the stallion to the front amid early fireworks that ultimately resulted in the No1 horse, Galactic Star, galloping.
Tiger Tara cruised through the first two laps of the race, during which Pat’s Delight and San Carlo traded places to take up the parked position.
No other moves were made until Mark Purdon started the three-wide train by easing Spankem out at the bell.
As the field went down the back straight, McCarthy put Tiger Tara’s rivals to the sword, reeling off crushing 26.3sec second-last 400m.
The Sydney pacer then careered away as the capacity Melton crown roared.
Much-improved Australian pacer Our Uncle Sam, ran second, more than 14m from the winner.
Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s pairing of Cruz Bromac and Spankem finished third and fourth respectively.
"They both went good races," Purdon said.
"You can’t take anything away from the winner. He was brilliant."
Tiger Tara’s Interdominion victory tops his list of his six group 1 victories. It should prove a massive boost when the 8yr-old goes to stud. The Bettor’s Delight-Tara Gold stallion was bred by the late Ray Anicich, formerly of Otago and Canterbury.
