DUAL Inter Dominion champ Beautide is about to get serious on the training track.
By Adam Hamilton
An upbeat trainer-driver James Rattray said the former Tasmanian pacer had come through his preparatory work well after another injury setback.
“He’s coming along well. I’m just about to bump up his work,” he said.
Rattray had seriously considered an NZ Cup raid ahead of the Perth Inter Dominion, but this latest setback forced his hand.
“There was so much I liked about the NZ idea, but when he another hiccup it changed things,” he said.
“The other big problem here (Sydney) is the lack of standing-start options to give him practice and that’s something he’d need a bit of.
“In the end, it was just going to be too hard to get him right for NZ so I didn’t nominate him.
“I’m now fully committed to Perth and looking forward to it.”
Beautide hasn’t raced since finishing second to Kiwi star Smolda in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on April 26.
He was headed to the Queensland Winter, but was struck down with injury.
It’s been a frustrating phase for Rattray with a couple of injury and/or health setbacks limiting him to just 12 starts since his first Sydney Inter Dominion win back on March 2, 2014.
“We’ve certainly had our ups and down, but I’m not complaining too much. We were able to get him back to his best to defend the Inter Dom title earlier this year,” he said.
“And things are looking good again now.”
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