FOLLOWERS of star Tasmanian pacer Beautide should not be concerned about the Inter Dominion champion finishing last in a trial at Menangle on Tuesday.
Beautide finished tailed out last in a field of six beaten over 34 metres but his trainer James Rattray says there is no cause for alarm.
“This was his first time to the trials since his spell and I wasn’t going to knock him about by running a slick time,” Rattray said.
“A couple of those horses had been to the trials two or more times and they ran along a bit, clocking a rate of 53 (1.53.49) but I only wanted my horse to run a rate of about 1.56 so that’s what we did.”
“If that meant Beau finished last beaten about 30 metres then so be it.”
“He will be back to Menangle next week for another trial and he will go a bit quicker.”
“We’ll wait until he gets into a race before we open him up,” Rattray said.
Beautide spent about six weeks in the paddock after he captured the Len Smith Mile at the end of his last campaign that also included victory in the Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion Championship final.