Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Lightly-raced square gaiter Our Maestoso maintained his outstanding form for Busselton owner-trainer Barry Howlett when Chris Lewis drove him to victory in the 2536m Sell Your Car at Westside Auto Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old now has raced 18 times for 14 wins and three placings for stakes of $125,327.
Our Maestoso began from the No. 6 barrier and Lewis sent him forward in a bid for the lead. But when he was trapped out four wide Lewis wisely restrained him and he settled down in sixth position, one-out and two-back as Abundance and then Line The Starzzz set the pace.
Lewis sent Our Maestoso forward in the back straight in the final circuit and the gelding got on terms with Line The Starzzz 420m from home before he took a clear lead in the home straight and won by 1m from $81 outsider Dark Secret, who was seventh at the bell before finishing with a spirited burst.
“He wasn’t quite 100 per cent and we had to be patient,” said Lewis, with the win giving him the second leg of a double, after having scored with World Secret in the previous event.