Reality Sets In As Australian Cup Tilt Looms

BRILLIANT bitch Reality Best will begin a possible tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup when she steps out at The Meadows on Wednesday night.

BRILLIANT bitch Reality Best will begin a possible tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup when she steps out at The Meadows on Wednesday night.

The daughter of Beast Unleashed raised eyebrows with a brilliant 29.08 win at Sandown Park on Boxing Day, however it was her last-start victory when defeating group race performers including Big Energy, Schillaci and Alpha Zulu that stamped her credentials as one of the country's rising stars.

"It was very unexpected," said trainer Karen Pitt of the Free For All win.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS WEDNESDAY NIGHT

"It was such a huge rise in class, going from a mixed 4/5th where she was a grade 5, straight to racing against proven group performers. 

"We were hoping that she'd be racing against those types of dogs later on so we were really going there for a bit of experience. She can be a little unreliable at the start, she's still learning and tends to be a bit more confident when she drops down to the rail.

Reality Best beating a top field at Sandown Park last week Picture: Jason McKeown

“We sort of thought box six would be a huge challenge to overcome and thought that if she happens to step awkwardly she's probably going to be in a bad spot by the corner, but she timed it right and she is quite strong."

Reality Best was the first to leave the boxes and her 5.06 first split had her a length clear of Shootout winner Big Energy through the first turn. 

The two-time Sandown Shootout winner stalked her every move but was unable to reduce the margin, scoring in 29.18 to claim her sixth career.

"Her last section is pretty tough as well,” Karen said.

“To have Big Energy sitting on her the whole way, I'm just so proud of the way that she was so determined, that she didn't shirk the task with a dog like him chasing her."

Reality Best began her career up the Healesville straight last June under the guidance of owners Michael and Melinda Tharles, however her arrival in Pitt's Pearcedale kennel was delayed after coming on season. 

"We took a couple of boys for them (Reality Is and Reality Pie), but she came on season so she joined the team later,” she added.

"They always had a high opinion of her and wanted us to give her a go. She's taking every challenge as she goes at the moment, we're very proud of her."

BEAST UNLEASHED AT STUD

After winning three of her first four starts for her new trainer, Reality Best ran second in a heat of the Group 2 Laurels before running fifth in the final, finishing behind outstanding bitch Miss Envy on both occasions. 

Now, with a win in fast time and against elite company, Pitt is taking aim at the Australian Cup however she is content to take her time and allow her rising star to progress at her own pace.

"She went through the Laurels because it was an age race, but we weren't really expecting to throw her in that grade that soon because she is still learning to race, especially when she's behind dogs,” Karen said.

"Ideally we just want to keep her where she can be confident and keep learning and getting experience before taking on the big boys, but we'll probably work towards the Australian Cup now."

That campaign begins on Wednesday evening when she jumps from box eight in a grade 5 heat, continuing a horror run of box draws that has seen her draw the inside half of the field just four times in 16 races. 

Karen Pitt with her former Ballarat Cup winner Compliance

"She's one of those ones that finds confidence on the rail too. She's been out wide but that's what they've got to do to learn to race. We can't complain, she'll get her share of inside draws where she'll be happy. It's all experience, we'll save the good draws for another day.

"The good thing about her is that she's still learning. There's no limit on her at the moment because she keeps exceeding expectations.”

Unsurprisingly, Reality Best has quickly become a kennel favourite, and not just because of her unbridled potential.

Pitt's eight year old son, Toby, has quickly formed a close bond with ‘Sabrina'.

"He named her after his favourite basketball player, Sabrina Ionescu, just after she arrived so ever since then she's been Sabrina,” she said.

"He's normally very shy around the dogs but the day she arrived, they just had some sort of bond. He comes out to the kennels and lets her out, he has to give her a pat every morning. He just adores her. 

"He comes to the races and watches her, she looks over the fence wondering where he is. He's never had that before, but he's bonded with her – he's got a couple of photos of her on his wall and just thinks the world of her."

"It's just unreal to see him be so scared of them until she arrived, now he thinks she's the best thing ever."

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