SIGNOFF will give Ballarat trainer Darren Weir his fourth starter in a Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Irish-bred Signoff secured a berth in the Cup with an commanding win in the group 3 $30,000 Lexus Stakes, 2500m, at Flemington on Saturday.
Signoff ($2.45 favourite), which has drawn barrier 16 for Tuesday, could not have been more impressive.
Superbly ridden by Hong Kong-based Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira, Signoff went to the line under a hold with 2.5 lengths to spare over a brave Big Memory ($9), with La Amistad ($14) third.
Signoff needed to take out the Lexus, which carries a cup ballot exemption for the winner, to get a Melbourne Cup start and he never looked like doing anything but salute.
He will carry 51kg after getting a 1kg penalty.
Moreira is naturally keen to retain the ride, but could face a battle to get down to the weight.
Weir went close to winning the Melbourne Cup in 2003, when the diminutive She's Archie charged home to finish second to champion mare Makybe Diva.
She's Archie backed up in the Cup a year later, but broke down and did not race again.
Leica Ding was Weir's latest Melbourne Cup runner in 2009, finishing 14th.
As usual, Weir was quick to heap praise on his staff at his Warrnambool stable, where Signoff is based.
“It’s a big thrill for myself and for all my staff at home. They do a great job.”
Moreira rode Signoff to perfection.
Weir said he asked the champion jockey to ensure the five-year-old was the first forward from gate three.
Moreira quickly found the rail and kicked up to, ensuring Big Memory, Shoreham and Thunderbird had to do plenty of work wide before crossing to make the pace.
Moreira then bided his time before striking with 400m to run.
"He produced him at the right time," Weir said.
Signoff has had a meteoric rise.
The five-year-old won a maiden on debut at Terang on December 9 last year and now has seven wins in 13 starts for $410,000 in stakes.
MELBOURNE FIELD FIELD (with barriers)
1- 201 ADMIRE RAKTI Zac Purton 8 58.5kg
2- 114 CAVALRYMAN Craig Williams 3 57kg
3- 212 FAWKNER RobertNicholas Hall 9 57kg
4- 047 RED CADEAUX (Gerald Mosse 15 57kg
5- 114 PROTECTIONIST Ryan Moore 11 56.5kg
6- 850 SEA MOON Tommy Berry 18 56.5kg
7- 410 SEISMOS Craig Newitt 1 56kg
8- 117 JUNOOB Hugh Bowman 7 55.5kg
9- 026 ROYAL DIAMOND Steven Arnold 6 55.5kg
10- 212 GATEWOOD William Buick 22 55kg
11- 131 MUTUAL REGARD Damien Oliver 12 55kg
12- 110 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN Glen Boss 13 55kg
13- 124 WILLING FOE James McDonald 17 55kg
14- 134 MY AMBIVALENT Andrea Atzeni 4 54.5kg
15- 055 PRECEDENCE Michael Rodd 20 54.5kg
16- 349 BRAMBLES Luke Nolen 21 54kg
17- 647 MR O'CEIRIN Chad Schofield 19 54kg
18- 643 AU REVOIR Glyn Schofield 23 53.5kg
19- 426 LIDARI Ben Melham 10 53.5kg
20- 026 OPINION Tye Angland 14 53.5kg
21- 635 ARALDO Dwayne Dunn 24 53kg
22- 613 LUCIA VALENTINA Kerrin McEvoy 2 53kg
23- 390 UNCHAIN MY HEART Dean Yendall 5 51.5kg
24- 1231 SIGNOFF Joao Moreira 16 51kg