Tim O'Connor
After eight races across almost two months, the Aurora Australis came down to a photo finish at Melton on Saturday night.
In the end, the camera showed Majestuoso as the winner of the Group 1 TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix and therefore overall series victor.
The Andy Gath-trained and Kate Gath-driven gelding had led Anton Golino’s mare Im Ready Jet by two points heading into the final race and held off his key rival by a half-head in a grandstand finish to the 2240m showdown.
While Im Ready Jet had excuses after being held up behind leader and stablemate Always Ready approaching the turn, all honours went to Majestuoso for his fighting death seat performance in a mile rate of 1:58.1min. He hit the front entering the straight and then held off the late challenge of Im Ready Jet, who surged late when she got clear running.
“Probably 12 months ago he definitely would have got beaten. There’s a couple of races he probably should have won and he didn’t,” Andy Gath said of his horse.
“He’s got mentally stronger and sort of wants to get the job done now.
“Even though he’s a little fella, he’s really developed in the body. He’s a little tank really. His legs have never grown since I’ve had him, but the rest of him has grown.
“He’s come such a long way and he’s nearly the perfect racehorse now.”
Majestuoso won four races through the inaugural Aurora Australis series – the V L Dullard Trotters Cup, Great Southern Star Final, The Knight Pistol and Grand Prix – to finish with a tally of 34 points, five clear of Im Ready Jet, who picked up both the Maori Mile and E B Cochran Trotters Cup.
Connections of third place-getter Temporale lodged a protest against the runner-up for interference caused near the 200m mark, but stewards ultimately dismissed the objection and original placings remained.
Majestuoso’s win in the Aurora Australis secures owner Norm Jenkin a $50,000 bonus on top of the prizemoney he won throughout the series.
In other results, James Herbertson guided consistent mare Aldebaran Crescent to a long-awaited maiden Group 1 success.
Herbertson saved the daughter of Majestic Son for one run and it proved the right move as she gunned down favourite Vacation Hill (Andy and Kate Gath) in the straight to win the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final.
Tim O’Connor
