Thrilling end to epic series

AFTER eight races across almost two months, the Aurora Australis came down to a photo finish at Tabcorp Park Melton last night.

In the end, the camera showed Majestuoso as the winner of the Group One TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix and therefore overall series victor.

The Andy Gath-trained and Kate Gath-driven gelding had a two-point advantage over the Anton Golino’s mare Im Ready Jet leading into the final race and held off his key rival by a half-head in a grandstand finish to the 2240-metre 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 rate of 1:58.1.

The son of Majestic Son hit the front entering the straight and then held off the late challenge of Im Ready Jet.

“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 said.

“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 – for a tally of 34 points, five clear of Im Ready Jet, which captured the Maori Mile and E B Cochran Trotters’ Cup.

Connections of third placegetter Temporale lodged a protest against the runner-up for interference caused near the 200-metre mark, but stewards dismissed the objection.

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.

• HRV Media