Trainer-driver Todd Rattray will be chasing his second win in only the second running of the $80,000 Beautide in Hobart on Saturday night.
Rattray trained and drove Magician to win last year’s race, where he secured Tasracing’s slot in the Eureka at Menangle, finishing in fourth position.
This year Rattray has promising four-year-old Nyack aimed for the race, with the Sweet Lou entire boosting a record of 14 wins and eight placings from 26 career starts.
“He has gone straight into free-for-all company this season and has finished second and thirds before winning a free-for-all in Hobart (on 30 June),” said Rattray.
Nyack’s most recent victory came in the Group 3 Raider Stakes in Launceston, where he led over the 2698m journey, dashing home in a 56.5s last half-mile on a rain-affected track.
“He was good in the Raider Stakes. It helped when De Goey galloped, but he did it pretty easily,” the trainer-driver said.
Nyack has drawn the inside of the second row for the Beautide, which has a field of nine.
“He has drawn a bit awkward, but he has been going well, so hopefully, we can get some luck.
Fighter Command has drawn barrier three and is the short-price favourite in early betting.
“I have watched his races, and he is obviously pretty good and is still a bit green. He has got a lot of ability and will be hard to beat,” said Rattray, who also acknowledged the strength of the field.
When asked to compare Nyack with Magician at the same stage, Rattray pointed out their racing traits quickly.
“They are two different horses. Nyack has more speed, while Magician is a lot stronger. Nyack is a better horse to do anything with and is really good to drive.
Magician lines up in race six on Saturday with a trip to Sydney on the horizon for him.
Before Saturday night, the Todd Rattray stable has two runners engaged at the Launceston meeting on Friday night including Hunt A Rainbow in race three, with the Huntsville entire winning two of his past four starts.
“He is going well. He might lack a bit of ability, but he went good after a good run at the last start,” Rattray said.
Rattray also has All About Sadie in race seven, with the Betting Line mare dropping back in grade on recent racing.
“I thought she was pretty good in the Granny Smith. This race suits her better, probably not the draw, but hopefully, she continues to improve, the trainer-driver said.
The Launceston card commences at 17:24, while Saturday’s Hobart program gets underway at 17:47.
