STAR Tasmanian pacer Beautide delivered one of the most impressive performances ever seen in an Inter Dominion final to make it consecutive victories in Australasia’s greatest harness race.
With his trainer James Rattray in the sulky Beautide was forced to face the breeze throughout the 3009-metre journey but the Tasmanian-owned and bred gelding made light of the task to cruise to an effortless win over outsider Flaming Flutter with For A Reason flashing home to grab third.
Beautide Bettors Delight-Gorse Bush) went into the race having had only two starts this preparation due to illness that set the gelding back early in the season.
After two unplaced runs this season he won the Nick Robin (Group 3) and the Coca Cola Sprint (Group 1) leading up to his Miracle Mile defence in which he had his colours lowered by Christen Me.
After that race the gelding again fell victim to a viral complaint but Rattray managed to get the work into him on the training track to get him to the Victoria Cup in which he finished eighth.
But Rattray was far from disappointed and believed he had his stable star back on track.
He proved Beautide was right on track when he obliterated his rivals in his Inter Dominion heat after which bookmakers around the nation installed him at a $1.50 favourite to win the final.
Today’s victory puts Beautide up with the greatest Tasmanian pacers of all time if not the best.
To win back-to-back Inter Dominions sets him apart from most and according to Rattray there is more to come.
UPDATE – Read our update from Monday 2 March on plans for further Group 1 assaults!
WATCH YESTERDAY’S INTER DOMINION WIN on our Go Beau page.