City in sight for Rat With Goldtooth
TRAINER Paul Preusker is taking Rat With Goldtooth to Mildura for the second time in three weeks in search of a maiden victory, but he already has his sights set on a metropolitan stint for the talented mare.
The four-year-old returns to the picturesque track by the Murray River after narrowly missing out at the end of July by less than a length. Going off as a -149.25 favourite at Crownbet.com.au, the mare was hampered badly at multiple stages and had to undergo a veterinary examination post-race after being checked at the 800m.
@ricmacracing .Thanks for the Mildura calls. What a great name "Rat with a goldtooth".
— John Hall (@hall9_john) July 31, 2017
The second placing kept Rat With Goldtooth’s unblemished placing record intact, however, after the horse debuted with a hard-fought second at Murtoa 11 months ago.
The horse steps up slightly in distance on Friday in the Get Your Memberships Maiden to the 1200m mark, and Preusker told HorseBetting.com.au that the experience advantage, as well as the additional journey, will assist in breaking his runner’s maiden tag.
“Oh for sure,” Preusker said when asked if the horse’s career to date gives it the edge on the field.
“A little bit further in trip makes it a little bit easier on her too.”
Rat With Goldtooth also has the advantage of a last-start race at the track it confronts on Friday.
The familiarity of the surroundings, as well as an inside barrier draw, has boosted the confidence of Preusker heading into the race.
“I think she’s improved following that run last month at Mildura and she has definitely drawn better,” the trainer said.
“She should be right in the mix.”
In a race that potentially only has one first starter, Rat With Goldtooth takes in the best form of any runner in the field.
Only four other runners have finished in the placings in the field of 13, and just one other runner has rounded out the quinella, which Preusker thinks gives his mare a strong advantage.
“That experience of racing well is important,” he said.
“I reckon it’ll hold her in pretty good stead on Friday and we see how we go from there.
“But we are thinking this is a race we can take out.”
As for the future, Preusker believes Rat With Goldtooth has the ability to discard of the country tracks and move into the metropolitan areas.
The trainer is also prepared to step the four-year-old up even further in distance, but is not going to push the mare too hard, too early.
“I think she’s good enough to run out to the mile,” he said.
“We’ll probably won’t rush her up to that mark but I think she goes from here and if she gets the job done we’ll be looking at some better races for her.
“She is definitely set for city grade though, for sure.”