Premier reinsman Gareth Rattray has been making it a habit lately of saluting aboard outsiders and he was at is again at UBET Park Hobart last Sunday night when he guided Melpark Maestro to a last-stride harness racing victory in the Noel Salter Claimer over 2090 metres.
The well backed Givitaname ($3.90) began well from the standing start to lead but Rattray quickly had Melpark Maestro in the one-out-one-back position where he travelled sweetly for most of the race.
When Rattray eased his charge three-wide to 500m out the leader lifted the tempo and Givitaname shot clear turning for home.
But under strong driving from Rattray, Melpark Maestro eventually ground the leader down and gained the desired result in the last stride.
It was the Heath Szczypka-trained gelding's first win of the season but according to his trainer the signal that he was closing in on another was delivered at his previous start when sixth in Launceston but beaten less than five metres.
Peter Staples