*Article by Edward Sadler for racing.com
It's been a trying start to the New Year for promising trainer Brian McGrath.
The Pakenham-based conditioner had to recently say goodbye to one of his stable stars, D'jumbuck, a horse bred by his family and who gave him his first win at Flemington.
"He passed away in the paddock and it's obviously devastating," McGrath said.
"He took us on a great ride, he's done so much for bringing the family together and did so much for raising the profile of the stable.
"He'll be really missed; he was a lovely horse around the place as well."
On Saturday, McGrath will return to Flemington with a horse who has also brought the McGrath family together, Pink Beau Ty.
McGrath's parents, his wife Megan and their two children were on track last time when the four-year-old saluted at Moonee Valley, his fourth win from his past seven starts.
"That was really good," McGrath reflected.
"Mum and Dad (renowned race caller Jim McGrath) just flew in the day before, so that was really good.
"Dad bred the horse and I think he got a real kick out of that, so did my Mum. Megan came down with my two boys as well, Rupert and Felix. It was a real family affair, it was fantastic really, it was a great thrill."
The form lines out of Pink Beau Ty's last-start win were further franked last weekend, with Jungle Jim winning subsequently at Flemington.
"He's really improving," McGrath said.
"He's done really well; he's just raised the bar each time. I thought last start he won really nicely and I think to take on Jungle Jim and Kin, the Godolphin horse, and beat them, I thought was a really, really good effort."
Saturday's assignment in the 1200-metre Benchmark 84 will be just the second time that Pink Beau Ty has raced down the famous Flemington straight.
The other occasion was during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, where he wasn't beaten far by Rey Magnerio on a day where McGrath noted he was in the wrong part of the track.
"I think he showed he can go down the straight, I think that was a really good run despite running sixth," McGrath said.
McGrath boasts a 14 per cent winning strike-rate from his past 50 runners and has credited his move to Pakenham as being a key factor behind his current form.
"I've got some great trainers all around me, the Gelagotis guys, Salanitri, Sadler, Moody, some really good trainers all around me," he said.
"It's just a really good facility, great tracks, open air. I think my results have really improved since I've gone there."