The powerful Darren Weir stable will have a possible four runners in the Listed $300,000 Ballarat Cup (2200m) at Ballarat on Saturday.
Taiyoo, above, is the stable pick in the Ballarat Cup at Ballarat. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Racing manager Jeremy Rogers is leaning towards Taiyoo being the pick of the crop but is expecting their other runners, Lidari, Auvray and Lord Van Percy all to run well.
“I would say Taiyoo is our best chance,” Rogers told racing.com.
“I know that Taiyoo has been working up the hill, going really well.
“All of them get up to a distance now so hopefully they can run good races.”
Brad Rawiller takes the ride on Taiyoo who has drawn barrier twelve but could jump from ten if all the emergencies fail to get a start when the field is reduced from twenty-two to its capacity limit of eighteen.
Rogers said that Taiyoo had a slow start to his Spring Carnival campaign but has gradually found some good form starting with a third two starts back in a 2040m Handicap at Moonee Valley on October 21 followed by a win in the $100,000 Kyneton Cup (2000m) on November 2 with Rawiller in the saddle.
“Early on his preparation he was quite disappointing and we were starting to wonder if it was all over but he bounced back a couple of starts back at Moonee Valley, really attacked the line and were we happier,” Rogers said.
“And then it was good to see him win the Kyneton Cup with a big weight last start.”
Lidari has drawn awkwardly at barrier fifteen with John Allen booked to ride but Rogers said that a start in the Ballarat Cup is still to be confirmed.
The imported stayer is coming off a last start third to Turnitaround in the Group 3 $150,000 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown last Saturday and Rogers said that they will see how Lidari recovers from that run and will make a decision later in the week if he backs up this weekend.
“He ran well on Saturday in the Eclipse and we will just see how he comes through the week. If he has a good week then we will back him up over the 2200m on Saturday,” Rogers said.
Lord Van Percy and Auvrey also went around in the Eclipse Stakes, finishing seventh and eighth, and both are set to take their place in the Ballarat Cup field before heading to the Listed $200,000 Pakenham Cup (2500m) at Pakenham on December 3
“He and Lord Van Percy they are both heading towards the Pakenham Cup in a couple of weeks,” Rogers said.
“They will probably need this run and then they should nearly be ready to go to the Pakenham Cup.”
Auvray has drawn in close at barrier four while Lord Van Percy has drawn out wide at eighteen in the original draw.
Eclipse Stakes winner Turnitaround has drawn barrier thirteen with Blake Shinn taking over from Hugh Bowman who will be riding at the Railway Stakes Day meeting at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Lee and Anthony Freedman will saddle up two runners in the Ballarat Cup, Nozomi who drew barrier ten with Stephen Baster to ride, and Cool Chap with Daniel Stackhouse from gate three.
