IT CERTAINLY won't be his main target this weekend, but leading trainer Barrie Rattray could win his first Carrick Cup for 20 years at tomorrow's centenary meeting.
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He will be represented by in-form four-year-old Devendra, a winner of three of his past four starts including the Burnie Cup.
But Rattray's main focus will come about an hour later when his family's top pacer, Beautide, contests a heat of the Interdominion at Menangle.
Beautide has drawn wide in barrier seven but Rattray is not unduly concerned as "his main dangers are outside him".
The six-year-old will be trying to clinch a place in the $750,000 final to run at the same venue on Sunday fortnight.
Rattray's last Carrick Cup win came in 1994 when Malabar scored by a half- neck from Sparkling Hanover and Yeltorado.
The trainer had also won the race the previous year with Anchor Man.
Devendra, a winner of nine races from only 27 starts, will have to overcome a 10-metre handicap but backmarkers have a good record on the big track.
Friday Lunch won from the 20m mark last year.
The record for the metric era is held by What A Muck Up, who overcame a 50m handicap in 1996.
Tomorrow's nine-race twilight meeting, starting at 3.35pm, also features the Tasmanian Country 3YO Championship where the unusually named Ramplestiltskin is a warm favourite.
The Rohan Hillier-trained colt finished only seven metres behind unbeaten three-year-old Resurgent Spirit in Hobart two starts ago before an easy win in moderate company at Devonport 18 days ago.
The non-Sky meeting will have only on-course tote betting but punters will be well served, as four bookmakers are expected to field.