My Ultimate Barney may have booked himself a berth on the float heading north for next month’s feature races in Brisbane after outstaying his rivals in the Lamaros Hotel Pace at Melton.

Runner-up in his previous two outings at headquarters, the Andy Gath-prepared three-year-old was sent out an equal $2.80 favourite with Jilliby Illuminate to get the job done.

Kate Gath pressed forward at the start as My Ultimate Barney joined the leader Ubetta Knot, assuming the role of leading the outside horses over the 2240 metre trip.

My Ultimate Barney surged to the lead with 400 metres to travel and had sufficient in reserve to stave off Triple Rock Saint by a neck in a mile rate of 1:55.3.

Gath was pleased with the staying prowess displayed by the winner.

“It was a good effort by him to sit parked going a solid time with no favours early, but luckily when we were caught wide early in a solid lead time we just sat there quietly and took our time getting up there,” Gath said.

“I wasn’t expecting him to win after the run he had, but he felt terrific and he did a really good job. He did it the tough way tonight, but he got it and that’s the main thing,” she said.

Gath indicated the son of Downbytheseaside may be aimed at the Queensland Pacers Derby.

“He might go to Queensland as his owner Norm (Jenkins) lives up there,” she said.

The potential travel plans are still up in the air for the state’s in-form trotter Watts Up Partytime, who continued his picket-fence form line at Melton when he led all the way in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Free For All.

The son of Majestic Son has now won his past four starts at Melton.

The five-year-old held out an early challenge for the lead from Harry Stamper in a 27.7 first quarter before Gath was able to steal a 31.3 second quarter breather, and the $2.25 favourite was untroubled to score by two metres from Parisian Artiste.

Gath acknowledged she was able to back off the tempo mid-race over the sprint trip.

“It wasn’t easy early, but we were able to get a good little breather there in the middle and that really helped,” she said.

“Nothing really came, so we were able to walk until the top of the straight and he let down terrific from there again and it was all over.”

Gath was non-committal regarding the upcoming Inter Dominion.

“I’m not sure. I think the owner might have been interested, but the final is over 3100 metres, so I don’t know what’s been decided, but we don’t have much time up our sleeves,” she said.

“I do think he is partly looking for a spell shortly. He has done a terrific job, so I’ll let Andy decide that.”

The win completed a successful treble for the Gath stable after former Queensland pacer Saifa took out the Hip Pocket Pace earlier in the night.

Saifa ($6) settled midfield in the running line before sustaining a long sprint, holding off the fast-finishing Mitzi Said by a head in a mile rate of 1:55.2.

Gath said Saifa’s first win since joining the stable 12 months ago was notable.

“He is owned by the late Tony Veivers’ family, so anytime he wins it’s nice, it’s really special,” she said.

“He’s a nice horse and he’ll win plenty more races.”

Amy Day earned bragging rights after Grayson Red prevailed in The Big Screen Company Pace.

Grayson Red trailed the leader All Blazing Guns, which is trained and driven by her partner Matty Craven.

When Day pulled Grayson Red to the outside, the four-year-old grabbed the lead on the line to score by a head in a mile rate of 1:55.0.

“We are both very competitive and it just goes to show that it comes out in our training and driving,” Day said.

“We both want to win. Both horses are paddock mates and he had one over us at Terang the other week, so it’s good to see this horse has got one back,” she said.