Racing: Tide continues to turn for NZ star

Terror To Love's surprise Victorian campaign just keeps getting better.

Now, the Kiwi superstar, winner of a spectacular Cranbourne Cup last Saturday, will not have to meet Aussie hero Beautide in this week's A$100,000 Ballarat Cup.

Beautide, the reigning Inter Dominion champion, would have been the favourite for Saturday's 2710m mobile but was pulled out before acceptances by trainer James Rattray yesterday.

"His blood report wasn't good enough and he just isn't quite right," said Rattray.

"He didn't travel down that well from Sydney and has been a bit lethargic, which is not like him. It is nothing serious but you can't race at this level when you are not spot-on."

Beautide will now be set for the Bendigo Cup on January 17, leading into the A$400,000 Victoria Cup on January 31.

That is one less big name for Terror To Love to beat this Saturday after he broke his long Australian duck last week. His performance to outstay Christen Me on Saturday was one of the best of his career but he meets another great stayer this week in Guaranteed.

Terror To Love will have to give him a start, too, drawing two off the second line in the mobile event, while Guaranteed has drawn four on the front line.

That suggests he will look for the lead in the middle stages and Terror To Love will once again face chasing down a horse who beat him home in the Miracle Mile two weeks ago.

Guaranteed's much-hyped stablemate Philadelphia Man, rated one of the most exciting pacers in Australia, has drawn three, with trainer Emma Stewart having four in the race.

Guaranteed opened the $2.20 favourite with the TAB on both sides of the Tasman, with Terror To Love $2.80 here and $3 in Australia.