IT’S rare to find a trainer unhappy after winning a Derby but that’s the only way to describe Butch Deverell’s feelings after Beaudine gave the trainer his second Tasmanian Derby success in the space of three years.
Beaudine was Deverell’s second stringer in the classic on Monday night and an outsider at $10 while kennel mate Jethro was heavily backed to start the $1.40 favourite.
Jethro began well from box two and just when it looked as if he was about to stride clear approaching the first turn the dog on his inside appeared to roll of the fence causing severe interference to Jethro that was spat out the back.
Beaudine missed the interference but he still had to bulldoze his way through the field to be in a winning position turning for home.
Simply Wunder (3) gained the upper hand from Monahan Bully and looked home nearing he home turn but when Beaudine knuckled down to his task in the home straight he powered home to score by almost fur lengths from Simply Wunder with Monahan Bully a close-up third.
“I shouldn’t get upset when something like that happens because it happens in racing but it still irks me when a real god dog has that happen to him (in reference to the incident approaching the first turn),” Deverell said.
“But Beaudine is a very strong dog and certainly worthy of winning the Derby,” he said.
Beaudine won his way into the Derby final with an impressive heat win and his record of eight wins and 14 minor placings from 31 starts is testament to his ability.
Deverell said Beaudine was destined for a staying career.
“Beaudine will step up in distance now and head towards the National Distance Championship.”
“He’ll go around in a 600-metre race here in Launceston next week and then go to Hobart the following week for a try over the 709 metres.”
“Depending what happens there (Hobart) will probably determine whether we pursuer that path,” he said.
Meanwhile Jethro will be heading interstate.
“Jethro will be going to Melbourne for the Maturity and maybe some other races over there,” he said.