Former top Tasmanian harness racing trainer Ken Rattray left the state over 20 years ago to pursue his training career in Queensland.
After just over two decades of plying his trade in the far north Rattray and his wife Sally Stingel, who opted to retain her maiden name, have decided it's time to relocate to their home state.
One of the 10 horses they will bring with them is Destreos who is affectionately known by his fans as the 'King of the Creek' owing to him having won more races than any other horse on the Albion Park track at Breakfast Creek.
The 13-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding has amassed 74 wins at Albion Park and at his last start on the track last week he delivered a typical gutsy all-the-way win in the SKY Racing Open Pace and in a time of 1:54.4.
Overall Destreos has started 322 times at Albion Park for 74 wins and 100 minor placings for almost $600,000 in stakes.
Destreos has amassed 96 wins that have been achieved in two Australian states (Queensland and NSW) and his birthplace New Zealand and they have come from 434 career starts.
"We are looking forward to returning home to Tassie after being away more than 20 years and we are particular looking forward to Destreos winning his 100th race," Rattray said.
"The horse has been an absolute marvel and the reason why he has had well over 400 starts and won so many races is that he just loves to race.
"It is an amazing feat to have won that many races (74) on one track and who knows, maybe it will never be bettered."
Rattray said they have purchased a property at Flowery Gull, near Beaconsfield, in the north of the state.
Next week they make their trek south for what will be another chapter in their harness racing journey but they could make a pit stop along the way to give Destreos a run in Victoria.
"Depending on how he handles the trip south, Destreos could be amongst nominations for next week's $20,000 Blacks A Fake FFA at Tabcorp Park, Melton before heading across Bass Strait."
Rattray had a lot of success in Tasmania before he relocated to Queensland in 1995, with two of the best horses he trained, Ebony Mac and Bradford Hanover, that amassed 21 wins between them.
But this time around he says he will be content to race for pleasure.
"I'll just potter about with a few."
"We'll be bringing seven racehorses with us and three retirees and that should be enough to keep us busy."
Peter Staples