Gareth Rattray was seen at his best as he scored a fighting win on lightly-raced four-year-old Moonlite Bay in the $12,000 Harry Holgate Memorial final at Mowbray on Sunday night.
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Having only his third start, the Brooke Hammond-trained gelding wore down the leader and favourite Swap Me to score by just under two metres.
Rattray made the decisive move early in the race after being caught three wide on Moonlite Bay rounding the first turn.
He went forward, without rushing, to sit outside well-backed favourite Swap Me who had to use a little petrol in the early stages to hold the front after being challenge by War Dan Star.
It was basically a race in two from that point, with Moonlite Bay getting the better of Swap Me half way up the home straight before the leader rallied late.
Levi Jimmy ran home well for third ahead of heat winner Chilla Breeze who appeared to be given every chance.
Moonlite Bay, who drifted from $11 to $21, is a half brother to six winners including Cat Bay, Stone Skipper and Real River.
The Devonport Cup-winning combination of trainer Juanita McKenzie and driver Rod Ashwood took out the Launceston Discretionary with easing favourite The Aussie ($1.90 to $2.80 with TAB fixed-odds).
Ashwood sat behind the leader Chief Destroyer until getting The Aussie into the clear in the straight when the five-year-old quickly sprinted to the lead.