NEALE DONNELLEY previews the Listed $350,000 Ballarat Cup:
LOCAL training superstar Darren Weir is gang-tackling tomorrow’s $350,000 Ballarat Cup with no less than six runners.
Wild weather in and around Melbourne over the past 24 hours has seen Ballarat get solid rain with the track now down to a ‘soft 5’.
Weir appears to have a runner for all conditions and following three early scratchings, LUCKY FOR ALL ($3.90 fav), the second emergency, is now into the field.
His stunning wet track record has seen punters charge straight into the four-year-old son of kiwi super-sire Tavistock and he’s now a clear-cut favourite.
This year’s field is over-whelming in size and depth, with horses coming from many different jurisdictions to fight for the big prize-money.
Weir’s runners include country-cups King ANOTHER COLDIE ($6.50), who comes into the race with wins in the Horsham Cup and Kyneton Cup at his past two starts.
He also has the extra smart KIWIA ($8.50) who was most unlucky when just 1.2-lengths away from Tally in last week’s Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
This race suits perfectly and the cut in the ground will also be helpful to his winning chances.
Last start Ararat Cup winner ANDREA MANTEGNA ($34), the consistent MASTER ZEPHYR ($31) and the talented TRADESMAN ($19) make up Weir’s imposing team.
Chris Waller, fresh from a solid Melbourne Cup week at Flemington, has the top-weight LIFE LESS ORDINARY ($8.00) in career-best form.
He has to carry 60kgs but comes into the race with a closing fifth in the Group 1 $1 million Cantala Stakes, followed by a strong second in the Listed Cup Day Plate at Flemington.
Strong staying mare LUVALUVA for Sydney-based mentor John Sargent looks to have a strong each-way chance in this race.
She will be suited by the 2200-metres of the race and comes into the Cup off a closing and close third to Kenedna in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington in Cup week.
Her staying record is exemplary and she seems well-weighted for the in-form Luke Currie.
LORD FANDANGO ($13) for local trainer Archie Alexander is another with strong form coming into this year’s Cup.
His Spring has been creditable including a closing sixth in the Group 2 Herbert Power behind Yucatan, a close fourth in the Bendigo Cup to Red Alto before his two-length fourth to The Taj Mahal in last week’s Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown.
Alexander has had little hesitation in backing him up this week into his home-town Cup, and despite carrying a hefty 59.5kgs, looks to be a winning chance.
Matt Cumani, another local trainer, has in-form mare ONE MORE TRY ($11) aiming for her fourth win on end in the Cup.
She has drawn the outside gate of 21 (18 after scratchings) but she comes into the race in super form and has a stunning record on rain-affected tracks.
All in all this is a very strong renewal of the Ballarat Cup with a standout support program for Ballarat’s once-a-year Saturday stand-alone meeting.
For mine I’ll be having something on KIWIA and LUVALUVA to win the race!
Good luck!
