Crossword Genius

Secretariat holds this back from judge (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rate

'judge' is the definition.
(rating is a kind of judging)

'secretariat holds this back from' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates a hidden word.
'this back' is a reversal indicator.
'etar' can be found hidden inside 'secretariat holds'.
'etar' in reverse letter order is 'RATE'.

(Other definitions for rate that I've seen before include "Charge per unit" , "quality" , "Tariff" , "Price - class - speed" , "The price paid" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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