A spot in the world’s richest harness race, the TAB Eureka, awaits the winner of Saturday night’s $80,000 Beautide (2090m), part of a mammoth 10-race card in Hobart.
Tasmanian-bred, Fighter Command, for Victorian trainer Jess Tubbs, is the short-priced favourite, back to defend his crown after his track record-breaking win as a then-three-year-old last year.
Another Victorian-based trainer, former Tasmanian, Kristy Butler, has Cuzzy Bro, a last-start winner of the Group 3 Tasfreight Raider Stakes, engaged in the race, and admits Fighter Command, who arrived in the state by boat on Thursday, will be the hardest to beat.
“Fighter Command is a pretty classy animal, even though he hasn’t won his last couple of races, his sectionals have been pretty good,” said Kristy.
Cuzzy Bro, who is closing in on $100,000 in prize money earnings, has won seven of his 28 starts, headlined by his Raider Stakes victory, where he let down with a good sprint to score by 7.4m.
“I was so happy to win a Tasbred Final finally, it’s a wonder the neighbours didn’t call the police, I was screaming the house down that loud.
“He is really fast, that’s one of his best assets with his point-to-point speed,” said Kristy.
Kristy’s husband, Marc, stayed with the pacer for a few days after his Raider Stakes. He was happy with the pacer after the run, with the duo leaving the pacer with caretaker trainer, and driver Rohan Hillier for his Beautide assignment.
“If the emergencies don’t get a run, he will come out of four, it won’t be too bad of a draw. He has got gate speed, but we will leave it up to Rohan if he wants to use it.
The Beautide is scheduled for 20:55 on Saturday, and is race six on the 10-race card.
