Raniar wins the final step in the Festival Stakes G3 in Rosehill

As usual, Ranier did everything he had and coincided with a strong design drive from Kathy O'Hara, a recipe for winning the Festival Stakes C3 on Saturday at Rosehill.

Ranier looked set to finish second in the last 50 meters of the race but O'Hara never gave up in her attempt at a gelding who responded boldly to win the final step of the 1,500 meters.

The perfect timing at which Ranier finished so fast secured his third win in the seeded race. The win came at an ideal time for his father, Lonro, a veteran of the 21-year-old Darley Australia stallion in two weeks.

The win was a continuation of the fertile spring of horse runner, who won from his debut in September and took second place in Flamington during the Melbourne Cup week.

Darren Bidman, assistant coach, praised the horse and rider.

"It was a great ride from Cathy, and I think it won early in the race when she didn't allow Testacchado to cross her path and urged the horse to do his best at the end of the race," he said.

"Kathy has a nice and gentle touch on horses, which responds well."

Cathy put Ranier behind Renoal's lead, and then turned around the back of the leader to get free running space in the straight track, a move she thought might have cost her victory.

"I switched from the back of the leader and I thought I had acted correctly to get a good run," O'Hara said.

"But he's a really good horse, and he's rallying strong in the last stage."