Simply magnificent

By Tim O’Connor (HRV)

Majestuoso solidified his place as Great Southern Star favourite with a mighty win in the TAB V L Dullard Trotters Cup (2240m) at Tabcorp Park last Saturday night.
The Andy Gath-trained six-year-old found the front from barrier three but was pressured hard by Kiwi Temporale (Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett/Greg Sugars), with early quarters of 30sec, 28.8sec and 29sec setting up the race for a rival from the back.
But despite getting home in a modest 29.8sec final fraction, Majestuoso had enough in reserve to hang on and score by 1.4m over the fast-finishing Always Ready (Anton Golino/Nathan Jack), who charged from back in the field for second.
“He was there to be beaten and to fight them off like he did, it was pretty pleasing. Especially leading up to all the big races,” Gath said.
“Even though he won at Shepparton (January 15), he was probably a touch plain and we thought he was probably a little bit underdone, so we’ve worked him pretty solid since hoping he’d bounce back.
“Going into the Great Southern Star, it’s the perfect run you want to have.”
Majestuoso is now a 22-time winner from 46 starts, with prizemoney up over $350,000.
He is a $3 favourite for this Friday’s Great Southern Star, a race Gath claimed last year with stablemate Tornado Valley.
The victory was one of two on the Melton card for Gath and his driver wife Kate, who combined to win with Vacation Hill earlier in the evening.