Brilliant pacer Beautide is set to join an elite club.
The Tasmanian born and bred star is a dominant favourite to claim back to back victories in the Gr.1 $750,000 TAB.com.au Inter Dominion Grand Final at TABCORP Park, Menangle this Sunday.
And victory will place him in rare air.
Only five pacers have recorded back to back victories in the Inter Dominion starting with Hondo Grattan who scored in 1973/74 while Gammalite (1983/84), Our Sir Vancelot (1997/98 & 99), Blacks A Fake (2006/07/08 &10) and Im Themightyquinn (2011/12 &13) are the most recent.
Captain Sandy is also a dual winner but recorded victories in 1950 and again in 1953.
The winning performance last year capped a remarkable rise for Beautide and his young trainer/driver James Rattray, his Inter Dominion success matched by his stunning Miracle Mile triumph.
Fast forward twelve months and things are slightly different for Beautide and Rattray, his invincible form has been broken down by his rivals and defeats have occurred in the Miracle Mile and a completely wiped out Victorian summer campaign.
Buts faithful fans breathed easy again following his ruthless victory in the qualifying heat two weeks ago.
That scintillating effort coupled with a perfect draw for the rich final has catapulted his chances of going back to back to very skinny odds.
And punters believe it’s his race to lose.
Beautide will start from gate five and provides Rattray with a plethora of options when the starter finally says go on Sunday afternoon.
With only two legs remaining in the current Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit season, current leader Christen Me is a notable omission from the field and therefore, it presents a perfect opportunity for the Belinda McCarthy trained For A Reason to make a late challenge.
Christen Me has banked 230 points while For A Reason sits with 154 points, victory on Sunday will see the Art Major entire claim an outright lead.
For A Reason starts from gate 11, the inside of the second-line.
Ultra-talented pacer Lennytheshark looms as a legitimate threat after landing the coveted inside gate, the David Aiken trained entire qualified after cruising through his Melton heat.
The former NSW Derby winner will be handled by champion reinsman Chris Alford.
Flaming Flutter and Im Corzin Terror are also representing the garden state following their placing’s behind Lennytheshark, the Geoff Webster prepared Flaming Flutter will start from gate three while the Amanda Grieve trained Im Corzin Terror starts from gate six.
New Zealand Cup hero Terror To Love again faces a huge task after drawing gate nine, star local reinsman Blake Fitzpatrick has again been booked to take the drive as the decorated entire attempts to win his first race on the spacious track.
To date, Terror To Love is winless in nine starts at Menangle.
Trainer John McCarthy has qualified two runners in Blazin N Cullen (gate two) and Monifieth (gate seven) but both are listed at long odds.
Todd McCarthy will take the drive behind Monifieth while John handles Blazin N Cullen.
Ellalong trainer/driver Mick Formosa has qualified his first finalist with Ultimate Art who scored a narrow yet decisive heat victory two weeks ago.
The big striding pacer will start from gate four.
The combination of Shane Tritton and Lauren Panella combine this year with former New Zealand gelding Easy On The Eye but has fared badly and must overcome a second-line draw, gate twelve.
Easy On The Eye was a runner-up in the qualifier won by Ultimate Art.
Darren Hancock is an Inter Dominion winning trainer/driver and prepares Teo Enteo who qualified after finishing fourth behind Beautide.
Teo Enteo starts from gate fourteen, the outside of the second-line.
Queensland pacers Majestic Mach and Avonnova fought out the finish of the Brisbane heat at Albion Park but both face difficult tasks after drawing awkwardly.
The Grant Dixon prepared Majestic Mach will start from gate eight while the free-legged Avonnova starts from gate thirteen, three off the second-line.
Shane Graham takes the drive behind Avonnova.
The lone West Australian representative is David Hercules, the millionaire pacer is prepared by David Thompson and will be handled by Morgan Woodley.
The recent Fremantle Cup winner has drawn gate ten, the outside of the front-line.
The Grand Final is scheduled to be run over the marathon distance of 3009m.
