The gelding is having surgery to overcome a breathing problem.

The OTI-owned Ruscello has been in Australia since the spring of 2013.

He won the group 3 Lexus Stakes, 2500 metres, at Flemington that year and went on to race in the Melbourne Cup, in which he beat just the one runner home.

Ruscello moved from the care of English trainer Ed Walker to Robert Smerdon, but has raced just once since back in April.

The six-year-old joins another OTI-imported stayer,  Renew, with Alexander.

Renew, who has not raced since winning the Sandown Cup at the end of the spring, is being set for the group 2

Adelaide Cup, 3200m, at Mor-

phettville on March 9. He is expected to resume over 2000m at Flemington on January 31.

ANDREW Payne is set to stay much closer to home with Beauty Perception for his next assignment.

Payne has nominated the six-year-old for a $30,000 benchmark70 handicap, 2200m, at his home track in Ballarat on Wednesday.

Beauty Perception has had just the two starts for Payne since transferring from the stable of Pat Carey.

He finished down the track at Flemington on December 20 and was then unplaced at Rosehill on January 3.

This was the first time Payne had saddled up a starter in Sydney and, unfortunately, the trip did not work as well as he would have liked.

Other New Zealand-bred stayers Lord Athenaeum and Tanah Lot are the top-rated among the 21 entries for the race,

The Chris Hyland-trained Tanah Lot has sound city form, with a third at Morphetville and a second at Moonee Valley in his latest three outings.

Tanah Lot is also well performed at Sportsbet-Ballarat, with a win and three minor placings in five visits.

Racing Victoria has programmed eight races. 

BALLARAT Turf Club is supporting the Country Fire Authority at Wednesday’s race meeting.

Proceeds from a gold coin admission will go the CFA’s Ballarat group, which will have an oncourse display of various firefighting units from over the years.

There will also be a CFA fire safety display, with volunteers on hand to give advice.

BOOM youngster Fontino makes a reappearance for Caulfield/Ballarat trainer Robert Smerdon in the group 3 $150,000 Blue Diamond Prelude for two-year-old fillies, 1000m, at Sandown Hillside on Monday.

Fontino has raced just once, back in spring, but made a

huge impression on that occasion.

The daughter of Turffontein romped away by six lengths in the $250,000 Inglis Two-year-old Classic, 1000m, at Moonee Valley on October 25.

EASTERN Peak takes a dash at country cups company at Great Western on Sunday.

The five-year-old takes a series of strong efforts for Coghills Creek trainer Terry Kelly into the $15,000 Great Western Cup, 1850m.

Eastern Peak has had two wins and two seconds in his past four starts, with the victories being at Avoca and Terang.

Beer Garden is the other Ballarat galloper in the Cup.

This will be the Dan O’Sullivan-trained eight-year-old’s second run from a spell. He won at Warrnambool in February last year and did not reappear until Ballarat on January 8.

Stawell trainer Paul Jones, who won last year’s Ballarat Cup with Mujadale, has set Spanish Vixen for back-to-back Great Western Cups.

THE $50,000 Colac Cup, 2150m, at Terang on February 15 is a possible next target for Camperdown Cup winner Mr Journeyman.

Simon Morrish is likely to make a final call based on whether he believes Mr Journeyman is ready to step up to the distance.

Mr Journeyman’s win in his past two start have each been over 1600m.

DARREN Weir had a day out at Hamilton on Friday. He trained four winners, with stable jockey John Allen landing a double.

Weir won with Camarada ($1.35 favourite) in a maiden, 1200m; Montana Moon ($1.65 favourite) in a maiden, 1400m; and Polizei ($8) in a maiden, 1600m – the first three events on the card.

Rural Hunter ($2.80 favourite) rounded out the quartet in a benchmark64 handicap, 120)m.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au