Ballarat Racing Wrap
CAULFIELD QUADDIE
1,3,4,6,8,12 – 2,4,5,7,9,12 – 6,7,8,11 – 1,6,7,14
$576 = FLEXI 10% $57.60
BEST FROM BALLARAT STABLES
SNOW COVER (Jim Mason) – Summer Championship final (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Bold last-start fourth to Lord Of Brazil over 1720m at Flemington. Has services of Craig Williams.
TUSCAN FIRE (Dan O’Sullivan) – Mornington Cup Prelude, 2000m, at Caulfield on Saturday. Cannot fault form. Expect another bold showing, with Peter Moody-trained Elusive King considered the one to beat.
HURDY GURDY MAN (Darren Weir) – Terang Cup, 2150m, on Sunday. Top efforts past two without winning. Ready to step up again.
TUSCAN FIRE CHASES CUP START
ULTRA-consistent Tuscan Fire is out to lock in a Mornington Cup start at Caulfield on Saturday.
Tuscan Fire lines up in the $120,000 Mornington Cup Prelude, 2000m.
He has won his past two starts for Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan – over 2000m and 2500m at Flemington.
O’Sullivan has nominated the Mornington Cup as a key flat target for the versatile Tuscan Fire.
MYERS TEAM RETURNS
VISITING NZ trainer Kevin Myers makes a reappearance with Titch in the $50,000 Terang Cup, 2150m, on Sunday.
The Ballarat-based Myers had a marvelous run in the spring with an emerging team - eight wins in 21 starts.
Titch was not among them.
He finished second in the Crisp Steeple at Sandown Lakeside in July last year and did not race again until the new year back home in NZ.
The eight-year-old goes to Terang off two NZ runs, including a last-start second over 2100m.
WEIR ON VERGE OF CENTURY
Darren Weir needs just one more win to reach 100 for the season.
The Ballarat stable is on target top reach 200 wins in a season for the first time with 2012-13 having just gone past the halfway mark.
All his wins have been in Victoria, with 80 on country tracks.
Weir leads the state premiership by 12 from Peter Moody with a winning strike rate of 15.6 per cent.
Robert Smerdon’s Caulfield/Ballarat operation is on 48 in Victoria.
Weir heads their country trainers’ premiership by 24 from Moody.
Smerdon is ninth with 26.
Weir is fourth nationally behind Peter Snowden, Chris Waller and Moody.
Smerdon is on 50 nationally.
BALLARAT STABLE WINNERS IN PAST WEEK
BLACK JACK BOY (Robert Smerdon*) – 0-68 handicap, 1000m, at Wangaratta on Friday.
HEAVENLY HOP (Darren Weir) – maiden, 1400m, at Warrnambool on Thursday.
IDOL FANTASY (Robert Smerdon*) – maiden for fillies.mares, 1600m, at Ballarat on Wednesday.
ANLON (Darren Weir) – BM72 handicap, 1400m at Ballarat on Wednesday.
SIERRA DE ORO (Darren Weir) – 0-68 handicap, 1100m, at Murtoa on Tuesday.
SMASHING DOUBT (Shay Brown) – 0-58 handicap for colts/geldings/entires, 1200m, at Murtoa on Tuesday.
MY OPTION (Darren Weir) – showcase 0-68 handicap, 1000m at Werribee on Sunday.
GOTTINO (Ken Moore) - $15,000 Great Western Cup, 1850m, on Saturday.
MOLLY’S GRACE (Robert Smerdon) – maiden, 1850m, at Great Western on Saturday.
BALLARAT STABLE FIRST STARTERS
VERY READY (Jim Mason) – More Than Ready-Ulfah 2yo filly. 2yo fillies maiden, 1100m, at Kyneton on Saturday.
DOING OUR BEST (Darren Weir) – Telesto-Forgetful 4yo gelding. Impressive Cranbourne trial form in March-April last year. Maiden, 1000m, at Tareng on Sunday.
NINE CARAT ROCK (Darren Weir) – Rock of Gibraltar-Hanover 4yo gelding. Maiden, 1300m, at Swan Hill on Tuesday.