Rattray aiming for The Eureka again

Todd Rattray produced one of the surprise packets of last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka and he’s got his sights set on doing it again.

Rattray’s harness racing gelding Magician (Sweet Lou) snared the Tasracing slot in the TAB Eureka through his win in the qualifier, The Beautide, and then stunned most by running a fantastic fourth in the Eureka itself as a $71 outsider.

Magician banked $100,000 for the run and beat home the likes of Catch A Wave, Speak The Truth and The Lost Storm.

The TAB Eureka is restricted to Australian-bred three and four-year-old pacers, meaning Magician is too old for another crack.

But Rattray has exciting four-year-old Nyack (Sweet Lou) for the world’s richest harness race at Menangle on September 7.

Nyack ran fifth to Magician in last year’s Beautide as just a three-year-old but has been fantastic in nine runs since, netting five wins and four seconds.

The latest of those seconds was a fantastic effort when beaten by a whisker by Magician in the $20,000 Ladbrokes Launceston Mile.

Magician dug deep to win at just his second run back in the Apple Isle, but there was so much to like about Nyack’s brave second with Gareth Rattray aboard.

“It was a great result to get the quinella; they both went really well,” Todd Rattray said.

“Magician did work early to get outside the leader, and Nyack did plenty of work coming three-wide a lap out, which isn’t really his go, but he kept coming.”

This year’s $80,000 The Beautide is slated for August 3.

Nyack, a son of Sweet Lou, has raced just 22 times for 11 wins, five seconds, two thirds and banked $141,929.

“I think he’s at least as good as Magician at the same stage,” Rattray said.

“He’s certainly an easier horse to handle, and he’s got a bit more speed.”

“He was actually knocked down in the Beautide last year and ran well considering, but he’s certainly a better horse now, and hopefully, he keeps improving with racing as he did last campaign.”

“I think he’ll really enjoy racing at Menangle and following the strong speed.”

“He’s got the Raider Stakes before the Beautide. Otherwise, we’ll just race him lightly. There’s another $20,000 in two weeks for both him and Magician.””

Rattray is a huge fan of the TAB Eureka concept and Tasracing’s commitment to supporting locals.

“It gives us a very rare chance to compete on the mainland. Sure, it’s hard to be competitive with the very best, but now we’ve got a chance and hope we get one good enough one day,” he said.

Rattray said Magician could also accompany Nyack back to Menangle.

“If we’re going, we might as well take a few with us,” he said.

“Magician’s two runs back home have been good, and he’d be worth a trip back for the Len Smith Mile.”

“He’s certainly got the ability, but he’s a real handful and difficult to do anything with.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia