DARREN Weir is setting five of his stable on course possible Melbourne Cup starts.
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Weir has nominated Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon, import Mobaco, Prince of Penzance, Puissance de Lune and Signoff for the $6m Melbourne Cup to be run on Tuesday, November 4.
A total of 148 horses have been nominated for the Cup.
This includes 31 internationals, featuring Japanese gallopers Admire Rakti and Bande - just the second time Japan has had entries since Delta Blues and Pop Rock quinellaed the race in 2006.
Robert Smerdon and Patrick Payne, who despite being based at Caulfield and Plumpton respectively maintain close ties with the Ballarat training complex where their career started, have two nominations each.
Smerdon has entered last-start winner Livery and former New Zealander mare More Than Sacred.
Payne has smart mare Zanbagh and French import Terrubi, which is yet to start in Australia.
Also a Caulfield Cup aspirant, Black Tycoon is set to have his first start for Weir at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Weir has nominated the Perth Cup winner for a 1600m handicap - a race which has also attracted The Cleaner, Zanbagh and Text'N Hurley.
A nine-year-old winner of 11 races and $800,000 in stakes, Black Tycoon won this year's Perth Cup in January when trained by Justin Warwick.
He has not raced since his second to Outback Joe in the Adelaide Cup in March.
Black Tycoon is one of four nominations from Weir's Ballarat stable for the 1600m event.
He also has Streets Away, Mobaco and Lord of Brazil among them.
Streets Away has finished down the track in his two runs this preparation, while the imported Mobaco did not beat home a runner in his Australian debut at Moonee Valley on August 23.
Another of Weir's spring hopefuls Lake Sententia is also looking to maker her return at MV.
Lake Sententia has not raced since last spring, when she was placed in group company.
Weir has entered Lake Sententia, Lucky Hussler and the improving Trust In A Gust in the listed $120,000 Drummond Golf Stakes, 1200m.
Trust In A Gust scored first-up and if he wins this will be his first time in a listed race.