By Tim O\u2019Connor (HRV)<\/p>\n
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.
\nThe 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.
\nBut 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.
\n\u201cHe 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,\u201d Gath said.
\n\u201cEven 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\u2019ve worked him pretty solid since hoping he\u2019d bounce back.
\n\u201cGoing into the Great Southern Star, it\u2019s the perfect run you want to have.\u201d
\nMajestuoso is now a 22-time winner from 46 starts, with prizemoney up over $350,000.
\nHe is a $3 favourite for this Friday\u2019s Great Southern Star, a race Gath claimed last year with stablemate Tornado Valley.
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tim O\u2019Connor (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), […]<\/p>\n