Over the last four years Darren Weir has come to dominate the Victoria racing scene.
Yet, remarkably, this has all come about quite suddenly after a humble beginning in his training career and then a number of relatively quiet years.
It was in 2002 – seven years after he started training – that he registered his first Group 1 victory with She’s Archie in the South Australian Oaks.
A hint of what the future held for Weir came the following year when She’s Archie finished second to the great Makybe Diva in the Melbourne Cup.
However, the launch of his rise to national prominence can be pinpointed to the success of Platelet in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on April 27 of 2013.
Two weeks later Platelet won the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap and, suddenly, people throughout the thoroughbred industry were sitting up and becoming aware of her trainer.
Platelet’s wins led through to Weir’s first Group 1 victory in Melbourne with Trust In A Gust in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 28 of 2014.
His name spread worldwide when in November of 2015 he won the Melbourne Cup with 100/1 shot Prince of Penzance ridden skilfully by Michelle Payne.
The Group 1s have continued to flow for Weir’s stable in the three years since and he brought his 35th victory at the elite level when Extra Brut scored a courageous victory in the $2 million AAMI Victoria Derby on Saturday.
Now there is every chance another feature race will be added to the Weir honour roll with Amphitrite and Verry Elleegant representing the stable in the Kennedy Oaks.
Interestingly, like Extra Brut did in the Derby, Amphitrite and Verry Elleegant are going into the Oaks after unplaced runs following brilliant wins.
After being well back into the straight Amphitrite rattled home to win the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 13 before her 11th in the Empire Rose Stakes on Saturday, when she was unable to find clearly running in the closing stages.
Verry Elleegant overcame difficulties to take the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield in stylish fashion before refusing to settle properly in the early and middle stages of the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday and wound-up fifth.
It seems that Wakeful Stakes heroine Aristia is the filly standing between Weir’s pair and another Group 1.
Although a maiden until the Wakeful she had been beaten only a half-length when second to Verry Elleegant in the Ethereal and has given every indication that the 2500m will not trouble her.
Others with prospects include Wakeful second placegetter Qafila, the Robbie Griffiths-trained Collectable and Greysful Glamour, who will be better suited at Flemington than she was in the Ethereal.
