Weir Not Confident Heading Into Ballarat Cup

Darren Weir has both Hurdy Gurdy Man and Bia Diamond in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) on Sunday but the leading trainer does not believe either will deliver him a victory on the final day of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Bia Diamond will be joined in the 2013 Ballarat Cup by stablemate Hurdy Gurdy Man on Sunday.

Bia Diamond will be joined in the 2013 Ballarat Cup by stablemate Hurdy Gurdy Man on Sunday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Hurdy Gurdy Man started his spring preparation with two poor runs in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) and the Gold Nugget Handicap but returned to his best form to win the Murtoa Cup (2050m) and Hamilton Cup (2200m) as well as finish fifth in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

The Street Cry entire finished a credible fifth in his last start in the Kyneton Cup (2000m) on November 6 but Weir believes that the top-weight of 60kg as well as the outside barrier makes winning the Ballarat Cup an impossible task for the honest stayer.

“He has raced well, winning the Hobart Cup and other country cups, but with the 60kg and the outside barrier he looks to have a job ahead of him,” Weid told Racing Ahead.

“I thought he was ok and he sort of held his ground to the line.

“The bigger track and the extra distance is in his favor but the weight and the bad barrier is going to make it hard.”

Bia Diamond has had a lengthy campaign of eleven starts since June and has performed consistently without breaking through for a win; with her second place finishes in the Leilani Series Final (1400m) at Flemington and the RSL Fillies And Mares Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield her best result.

The daughter of Savoire Vivre finished a strong second behind Group 2 runner-up Queenstown in the City Jeep Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 but was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the Ballarat Spring Cup on November 6 and Weir believes she will need to improve significantly on her last start effort to be any chance in the Ballarat Cup on Sunday.

“Her Moonee Valley run was really good and were pleased with that,” Weir said.

“If she ran up to that, that would have her being competitive in the Cup but on her last run she went terrible and if she produces that again she is not going to be competitive.

“She seems to be in good order and she will get a really good run from the barrier.”

Weir is chasing his second win in his home Cup after winning the 2004 edition of the race with Just The Part.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.