By Adam Hamilton
BEAUTIDE has been scratched from Saturday week’s Group 1 Victoria Cup to focus on the Miracle Mile.
In an ironic twist, the champ is set to race on Victoria Cup night, but in a ho-hum free-for-all at Menangle instead of the Cox Plate of harness racing.
“We thought long and hard about it, but in the end we felt going into such a big race as the Victoria Cup second-up after an eight month spell was a big ask,” trainer-driver James Rattray said.
“He’s fit and very forward, but he still only had the one lead-up race. I wish he’d had two or three and we’d have been there for sure.”
So Beautide, who won so dominantly at Menangle when first-up last Saturday night, will have two more runs at the same track ahead of the $750,000 Miracle Mile on February 28.
“There’s a free-for-all for him on Saturday week up here and then it’s another two weeks to the Miracle Mile lead-up races (February 13),” Rattray said.
“It’s an ideal way to have him at his absolute top for the Miracle Mile.”
No doubt Beautide’s love for the wide open 1400m Menangle track played a role in Rattray’s decision as well.
In other stable news, Rattray’s second best horse Devendra is no certainty to tackle the Victoria and/or Hunter Cups.
“He’s had a busy time in Perth and gets to Melbourne soon,” Rattray said.
“We will assess him when he gets across, but there is a real chance we could skip Victoria and freshen him for the Miracle Mile lead-ups night (February 13) at Menangle,” he said.
“He did a fantastic job winning more than $200,000 during his couple of months in Perth.”
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