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AT a meeting dominated by members of his family, leading trainer Barrie Rattray last night won his first Burnie Cup with promising four-year-old Devendra.
Although he has won almost every feature race on the Tasmanian calendar, the Burnie Cup hasn't been kind to the master Longford trainer.
He supplied the first horse past the post in 2002 but his ``winner'' Barringtonboutique was later disqualified.
Devendra, with son Todd in the sulky, made amends last night when he sat outside the leader for the marathon 4-1/2 lap race to score a tough win over High Flying Ruler and Willie Winalot.
Another son, Gareth, drove hot favourite Mister Sumna, unplaced after breaking just after the start and again mid-race.
However that was about the only blemish on Gareth Rattray's record for the night, as he finished with five winners including a dead-heat.
Devendra is raced by Barrie Rattray's family trust in partnership with ``stable stalwart'' Viv Clark, of Launceston.
``I'm glad to have won this race for the first time and to win it with Viv is something special,'' Rattray said.
``This horse has promised plenty but up until now hasn't delivered a lot, although he has been placed behind some good horses.''
Rattray said that he believed Devendra was good enough to eventually find his way to Sydney to be trained by his son James.
Last night's win gave Barrie and Todd Rattray the feature double for the weekend, as they also took out the $10,000 Harry Holgate Memorial with Divas Delight at Mowbray on Friday night.
Rattray said that he was honoured to win the race named in memory of the former premier and racing minister who did a great deal to support the industry during his time in government.
Gareth Rattray's winners last night included three horses trained by Andrew Rawlings _ Angkristy, Bumble Don and dead-heater Monarco Playboy _ as well as Not Another De Jay and Prettyboytoby.