Authoritative part of Rue's top meeting

Tom Pay eventually got Rue's Authoritative ($4) past Rock Bottom ($4.40, Jason Turnbull) with 100m to go and survived a late dash from race favourite Life Lavros ($2.60, Amy Rees) to take the spoils by a half neck.

Authoritative was one of three winners trained by Rue on the night, and he finished the night off with a win in the driver's seat on board Trent Rue's Write Time.

Pay's decision to make a move midway through the final lap paid off with Authoritative.

"We hadn't done any work and I thought that we was the time to get up there and go on with it," Pay said.

"He was always going to beat the one next to him going for home. He still fought on when the others with fresher legs on his outside were there.

"It made it a bit trickier when they went so slow going around the back so I knew that was the time to get rocking."

Pay sat at the back of the field going into the last lap of the race with Authoritative and wasn't thrilled with the drop in pace heading into the third quarter.

He decided to make a quick and decisive three wide move from the rear of the field, with the favourite Life Lavros in tow.

Authoritative drew alongside Rock Bottom but Pay wasn't able to shake the Wendy Turnbull-trained runner with 200m to go.

The pair went stride for stride down much of the straight but Authoritative pulled clear in the closing stages.

Life Lavros charged home, as did Rock On ($10, Mitch Turnbull), but they would have to settle for second and fourth respectively, with Rock Bottom holding on for third.

Authoritative was bested by veteran Beetson in a shock result last week, where he also had to do work from the rear of the field, but this time the tactic paid off.

Wednesday's winning mile rate was 1:57.5.

The win takes Authoritative's record to seven wins and five placings from 16 starts.