Image: Daily Telegraph Photo by Daily Telegraph
Two time Inter Dominion champion, and top seed for the 2015 TAB Touch Inter Dominion at Gloucester Park, BEAUTIDE has been withdrawn from the series by trainer James Rattray.
The 8-year-old, who recently was recently named Australian and NSW horse of the year, faced a minor setback which will prevent the star pacer from defending his crown in Perth. The setback meant his campaign for a third Inter Dominion championship was interrupted and his trainer didn’t think the horse would make to the West at the top of his game.
Gloucester Park CEO Michael Radley received the news this morning.
“James has reported that BEAUTIDE has had a slight setback and wouldn’t be able to get the defending champ ready in time” said Radley
“It’s disappointing that BEAUTIDE won’t be able to have a chance to emulate the feat of IM THEMIGHTYQUINN by winning three Inter Dominion’s in a row, but hopefully will get to see him at Gloucester Park for the 2016 Inter Dominion”
“James will still have a team in Perth for the Inters, so he is still a chance to win with another of his team which are going really well in Sydney” he added
Rattray has committed to traveling west to take on the series and other feature events over the Summer Carnival. MODERN RULER is currently ranked 24th for the Inter Dominion, and DEVENDRA - ranked 38th , will hope to win some NSW races in the coming weeks and climb the rankings to gain a start in the final 30.
Despite the withdrawal of Beautide, Radley was still buoyant about the calibre of horseflesh that will race at Gloucester Park in the $1.8 Million championship, starting on 27 November.
“Most of the big names have paid up the first acceptance fee, which is due by tomorrow (Friday), including Avonnova, Philadelphia Man, Lenny The Shark and Franco Ledger as well as top locals My Hard Copy and Waylade”
“It is still shaping as one of the best Inter Dominions for quite some time and will be an amazing series.”
Leading the charge to Western Australia on a flight due to land in Perth tomorrow morning are FOR A REASON, who will be transferred to the stables of Greg & Skye Bond as well as JASON RULZ a recent acquisition of the in-form Brennan Racing stables.
The third horse on the Melbourne-Perth flight is MEADOWBRANCH DJ. The Irish pacer has finished quarantine and has been stabled at Luke McCarthy’s stables waiting for a flight west, with the champion trainer impressed by the 7 year-old.
“He stayed at my place for a few days after he finished his quarantine. He’s a terrific looking horse who looks like a real athlete. I’m excited to see how he measures up, he will add real x-factor to the series at Gloucester Park” explained McCarthy
New Zealand based pacer CHRISTEN ME will become the number one contender when the third round of rankings are released on October 19. The horse has booked his spot on a charted flight to Perth assuring his safe arrival for the series.
