Wednesday 8th April 2015 – Two time Inter Dominion winner Beautide will be back at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night for his final hit-out before the Gr.1 Len Smith Mile on Sunday April 26. Harness racing trainer James Rattray is happy with his star seven year old and after a strong trial a week ago, believes Beautide will be hard to beat this weekend.
"The trial last week was just what he needed because he hadn't raced since winning the Inter Dominion, he is ready to go this Saturday night," Rattray said.
"He had a good workout early in the week and Saturday night should top him off nicely for the Len Smith Mile a fortnight later."
Rattray took a similar path to the Len Smith Mile last year after winning the Inter Dominion, winning a race impressively a fortnight beforehand. On that occasion he recorded a winning time of 1:55.6, his slowest time over the mile at Menangle.
"He has drawn out wide on the track and there are some horses in the race that possess early speed so it will be interesting to see how they settle down."
"After the Len Smith Mile I will sit down and work out whether I will take him to Queensland for the Winter Carnival because I am really keen to go to Perth and give him a shot at winning the Inter Dominion for a third time."
A win in Saturday night's Paul Fitzpatrick Free For All would take Beautide's prize money over $2 million, making him the thirteenth Australasian standardbred to achieve the feat and just the fifth Australian born pacer to do so.
Rattray will have three other horses racing on Saturday night. Rykov Leis will compete in race one and after a strong trial performance on Tuesday, Rattray is expecting a strong performance.
"He trialled free legged on Tuesday and did everything right, I think he has to trial again without hopples before he can race without them so he will be wearing them on Saturday night."
"He is more comfortable without them but his run last start was good so I'm expecting another strong performance this week."
Blue Pointer will compete in race two after an impressive victory last time out.
"Blue Pointer has trained on really well since the last start win but there are some nice horses in that race and he has drawn wide."
"Roger Ramjet will go around in a heat of the Carousel, he won last time out too, he is going really well at the moment."
Rattray is still in the process of setting up his new property at Exeter and is hoping work will begin soon on his new track.
"At the moment we take the horses into Goulburn to hopple and if they need some galloping we go to the Bong Bong track to work them."
"Bong Bong is only about fifteen minutes away so it's quite good but I'm looking forward to getting everything set up at the new place and hopefully that will all happen in the next few months."
Greg Hayes