Triedtotellya Photo by Stacey Lear
HAVING two Inter Dominion finalists is a very realistic goal for Tasmania.
It is 11 years since the last Tassie pacer won the iconic race when the great Beautide won the second of his Grand Finals at Menangle in 2015.
His trainer-driver, the Tasmanian-born and raised Jimmy Rattray, is back for another tilt with underrated pacer Nyack.
Tasmania’s other great hope is the state’s reigning Harness Horse of the Year, the Rohan Hillier-trained Triedtotellya.
The pair start their quest for spots in the $1 million Ladbrokes Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 18 when they tackle Saturday night’s opening round of heats at Albion Park.
“When the Inter Dominion comes around, you always think back to Beautide and how lucky we were to win a couple (of finals) with him,” Rattray said.
“It’s just so great to be part of it again and Nyack has found his best form again at the right time.
“Like Beautide, Nyack is a special horse to our family being a homebred and a close relation to Devendra, who won a couple of Inter Dominion heats for us a few years back.
“Nyack was really unlucky to miss making last year’s final when he got knocked down in one of the heats and he’s going at least as well if not better now."
Nyack blazed a 1min49.4sec mile to win at Menangle two starts back, then capped his preparation when beaten a whisker by former Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo at the same track on June 20.
Nyack was dealt an early blow with an outside draw (gate seven) in by far the strongest heat on Saturday night where big guns Leap To Fame (four) and The Janitor (five) are drawn inside him.
In contrast, Triedtotellya drew perfectly in gate one in what looks the weakest of the three opening heats and gets his chance to win or get huge points towards a final berth.
Hillier has opted to take a very lead-up approach with the gifted but injury-plagued Triedtotellya.
A winner of 20 of just 28 starts, Triedtotellya will go into Saturday’s heat having not raced since an easy Launceston win on May 10.
“It’s deliberate. We want him fresh, that’s how he goes best,” Hillier said.
“He’s been up here (Brisbane) since last Wednesday and I couldn’t be happier. He’s settled in really well.
“We’re staying with Shane Graham and he said our work last Saturday was exactly where you’d want to be at.
“We've had some luck on night one and now we just need it to continue and I think he’s good enough to at least make the final.”
Nyack is one of two Inter Dominion hopefuls for Rattray.
“London To Brick is back for trotting series again, too,” he said. “He made the final last year, but I’d been battling a few issues with him and he was nowhere near his best.
“He’s had three runs back at home (Menangle) and should be getting close to his best now.
“It first goal is to get both through to their finals and then go from there.”
PHOTO:- Triedtotellya - Stacey Lear Photography
