Fortune favours the brave.
And that was the story at TABCORP Park, Menangle with Tasmanian pacer Beautide storming to victory to claim the Gr.1 $750,000 SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile to beat boom New Zealand pacer Christen Me and For A Reason in a time of 1;50.2.
Beautide becomes only the second winner from the Apple Isle following on from the legendary Halwes (1968) to claim the famed event and the first horse since the mighty Westburn Grant (1990) to capture the Newcastle Mile/Miracle Mile double in the same year.
The victory further catapults Beautide into the elite echelon, clearly stamping him as a genuine Grand Circuit star of the future.
The winning drive by James Rattray will be spoken about for many years to come as he produced a tactically brilliant performance to steer the Bettors Delight gelding to victory lane.
In a very calculated move by Rattray soon after the start, he guided Beautide down to the marker line despite landing the one/one trail and seemed content to race three back on the pegs following Smoken Up and For A Reason.
The first quarter was reached in 26.6 seconds.
Victorian star Smoken Up led the way entering the back straight while Restrepo moved up on the outside before taking cover on Christen Me who was then forced to face the breeze.
The half was reached in 55.4 seconds after a second quarter was posted in 28.8 seconds.
Smoken Up continued to dictate terms in front while his rivals lay in waiting, Christen Me applied more pressure while New Zealand hero Terror To Love launched a wide and sweeping after settling last.
The third quarter was registered in 28.6 seconds.
As the field straightened, Christen Me soon got the better of Smoken Up while For A Reason eased away from the inside and followed Christen Me leaving a dream passage for Beautide to shoot through on the inside.
As soon as Christen Me was being hailed the winner, Beautide sprinted brilliantly to quickly claim the lead leaving Christen Me and For A Reason to battle out the minor prizes.
At the line, Beautide ($5.10) scored comfortable by 5m over Christen Me ($6.10) with a further 1.25m away to For A Reason ($2.90 Fav) in third.
The time was 1;50.2 with the final quarter clocked in 26.2 seconds.
“I can’t believe it, this is unreal and I’m lost for words – I just won the Miracle Mile.” Rattray beamed immediately after the race.
Rattray, 28, becomes the youngest trainer in the races history to win Australasia’s premier speed test.
Beautide has now won his last seven starts in a row and the Gr.1 $400,000 SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton on December 14 now beckons.
