INTER Dominion hero Tiger Tara has thrived since his stunning win and is headed to Perth.
Trainer Kevin Pizzuto said as long as suitable flights can be locked-in, Tiger Tara will tackle the $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup on January 11 and the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup a week later. Both races are at Gloucester Park.
“He’s come through like he hasn’t even had a run,” Pizzuto said. “He’s too well not to go to Perth. Plus the prizemoney is so good and he loves the small track.
“As long as I can sort the right flights, and they tell me that should be fine, he’ll go there.”
Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshal is another headed to Perth after a stunning return to racing with a win at Menangle yesterday (Monday).
My Field Marshal drew wide, worked hard early, grabbed a midrace trail then gunned-down heavily-backed stablemate Raukapuka Ruler to win running away by 2.3m in a 1min50.9sec mile.
He was timed to run a 53.8sec last half.
“This is the best preparation he’s had for a long time. He always seemed to have it under control today, either when our horse kicked away with a big lead. He gathered him in quickly,” Butt said.
Yesterday’s race was transferred from last Saturday night when the Menangle meeting was washed-out.
“It’s turned out perfectly really. He now heads to Melbourne, has a day in a yard down there and flies out to Perth on Wednesday night,” Butt said.
“I was keen to get him there for a lead-up race and he’ll have that in the sprint at Gloucester Park on December 28.”
Butt’s other stable star, Let It Ride, will stay in Victoria for his lead-up racing towards the Hunter Cup on February 2.
“I just think he needed the run when he was beaten the other night (second to Conviction in a free-for-all at Melton last Saturday),” Butt said.
“There’s lot of good options for him in Victoria. He can have four runs close together, then a week’s break and into the Ballarat then Hunter Cups.”
Adam Hamilton