Beautide was initially tired after a hard Miracle Mile second to Christen Me on November 29 followed by travel to Victoria and then suffering a minor viral complaint, which forced him out of the Bendigo Cup two weeks ago.
Any hope of a pacer winning a group one of tonight's incredible depth without a lead-up race would usually verge on the impossible but dig deeper into the form of his rivals and you realise Beautide isn't that badly disadvantaged.
Christen Me and Guaranteed have raced only once in moderate fields each in the past seven weeks, while Terror To Love hasn't raced at all in six weeks and likely trailer Lennytheshark has had only one start since winter.
So several of the key threats probably don't bring much more serious race fitness into the race than Beautide, with their trainers walking a fine line between having them ready for tonight's thriller and leaving enough in the tank for the Hunter Cup and Inter Dominion in the coming weeks.
While Beautide hasn't had that lead-up race he did pace a last mile in 1:54.6, final 800m in 53 seconds, at the Ballarat trials last Saturday, as quick as any race. "I think he is pretty close to where he was Miracle Mile night," says straight-talking trainer James Rattray, who used to work for Tony Herlihy.
"While he had a couple of small setbacks he didn't actually miss much work and looks great.
"So I am happy to try and lead on him and he is ready to roll along with his high cruising speed."
Beautide in front around Melton in what is effectively a sprint race will take enormous catching and for all the depth of the race, the tempo and the fact Beautide and Christen Me will be up front should deter the perceived wave of attackers.
Rivals like Guaranteed could be stuck three wide when they improve and while the likes of Adore Me and Terror To Love can win with the right three-wide cart into the race, next week's Hunter Cup may be a more winnable target.
If Beautide does lead those closest to him represent the dangers, with Christen Me the obvious one.
Lennytheshark sitting in the trail has a chance but he tends to hang out and doesn't look a natural passing-lane horse, so Philadelphia Man, parked just off the speed, looms as the most likely pouncer and the each-way value on the New Zealand TAB, because he should be the fittest horse in the race.
Follow The Stars should win a Kiwi-laden final heat of the Victoria Derby, while former Auckland trotter Realmein has a great chance of upsetting National Trot winner Sheemon in their heat of the Australasian Trotting Champs.
Stellar cup
• Tonight's A$400,000 Victoria Cup is one of the strongest races in a decade.
• Christen Me, Adore Me and Terror To Love represent New Zealand.
• Beautide looks the likely leader and horse to beat.
• The race begins at 11.32pm.
