Nyack, the horse that caught the eye of many in the Beautide in early August, made a winning return to the track in Hobart on Friday night.
The three-year-old Sweet Lou colt was sent to the paddock after finishing 6.3m behind Magician in the Beautide, where he broke after being checked on the first turn back on 5 August.
Trainer Todd Rattray sent the pacer to the paddock, and he resumed as the $1.85 favourite in a no more than six-win race on Friday.
From barrier seven Nyack raced outside the leader in the 2090m event and proved too strong for the leader, Spooky Girl ($7) and Sports Illustrator ($4.40) over the concluding stages.
“He had been working good, but to sit outside them first up was a good effort, and he felt pretty strong on the line,” said Rattray, who was also in the sulky for the win.
“I think his last four or five runs last prep, he was getting better, and he feels a lot stronger than he did before, so hopefully he can mix it with the good ones this time,” said Todd.
Friday’s win was the colt’s seventh at his 14th race start.
This preparation will likely include the $40,000 Tasmanian Derby on 4 November and the $60,000 Globe Derby, which sees the final scheduled for 3 December.
“It’s a good group of three-year-olds, there are four or five elite horses.
“You need a lot of luck in those races, but I think he is a horse there that can mix it with them,” said Rattray.
Meanwhile, Magician, who ran fourth in the TAB Eureka at Menangle in early September, has returned to work this week.
Magician remains in New South Wales with James Rattray, and Todd confirmed no firm plans were put in place with the gelding.
