With young concession driver Jackie Barker in the sulky, the six-year-old gelding unleashed a powerful run in the straight to finish over the top of the pacemaker Yankee Roller and a surging Better Enforce to win the opening race on Group 1 Victoria Cup night.

Hashtag, who has had just a handful of starts for his Marong-based trainer, had not won since his victory for his former trainer Grant Dixon at Redcliffe on May 15.

His most recent win before that success was at Albion Park in July 2018.

The lengthy gaps between victories by no means paints an accurate picture of the gelding's ability.

Originally trained by Laura Crossland at Kialla and later by Craig Cross in New South Wales before landing in the Dixon stable, the much-travelled Hashtag has won 15 of his 73 races and has been placed on a further 14 occasions.

Back in grade to a NR 70 to 79 last Saturday night, McNaulty believed the gelding had the capability and potential to add to continue adding to his win tally.

"I have probably had him for probably three months now and he's a nice metropolitan horse I can take down to Melton three times a month," he said.

"He's probably in his right grade now - he's dropped back a few grades since I've had him. With the new (ratings) system, it's probably helped him."

Despite starting $44.10 the win, much to the delight of owners, McNaulty was always confident of Hashtag's chances.

"I would have been pretty disappointed if he wasn't top three, given he was back in class," he said.

"I have him in again at Melton on Saturday night and we might now take a look at some of the smaller country cups with him.

"It depends on how he handles the smaller tracks, but I was thinking something like St Arnaud. Either that or we will keep racing in town."

McNaulty has eight horses in work, four of which ran on Saturday night, including the returning trotter Fratellino, who finished fourth behind the smart Andy Gath-trained mare Miss Blissful and the highly-rated Wobelee in a NR 70 to 79 trot.

"First start back from a spell, I was rapt with his run and I'm sure he'll improve from that," he said.

"He'll probably go to the Swan Hill Cup and then the St Arnaud Cup after that."

Meanwhile, winning driver Jackie Barker was thrilled to emerge with a win aboard Hashtag in a race in no way run to suit the son of Shadyshark Hanover and Elvira Bromac.

"Barrier 11, we were never going to be up there - the race didn't work out at all how we wanted it to. There wasn't much speed on," she said.

"When they were going so slow down the back, I thought we were in a bit of trouble, but credit to the horse, he really flew home that last 100 (metres) and really got the job done."

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