Dan O’Sullivan saddles up Leicameares in the fourth heat of the Porter Plant Cup Series, 1400m – a showcase event for fillies and mares.

This is the last lead-up to the $50,000 Porter Plant Cup, 1400m, in Ballarat on Thursday, March 12.

Ballarat Turf Club has run previous heats over three consecutive Thursdays.

Up to her latest outing, when last at Sandown Lakeside, Leicameares had been a model of consistency this campaign for O’Sullivan.

She had produced a win in Ballarat, plus a second and two thirds in as many starts.

The four-year-old’s win at Sportsbet-Ballarat was significantly over Thursday’s 1400-metre trip.

Damien Oliver gave Leicameares the run of the race, one-out and one-back, before switching her to the inside and railing through to the lead.

Glen Boss takes the ride on her this time and although Leicameares will jump from the outside gate, this should not cause too many problems in a small field.

The Terry and Karina O’Sullivan-trained Resumethegame (60.5kg) is top weight, but this will be eased by a 2kg claim by apprentice jockey Jessica Payne.

Darren Weir, who won the first Porter Plant Cup heat with Pendles, has accepted with So Hasty, while La Consolidate (Robbie Griffiths), Tail Risk (Danny O’Brien) and Cathy’s Mark (Nigel Blackiston) are others from other leading stables.

Thursday, which features seven races starting at 1.20pm, will be the first of three race meetings in the space of eight days in Ballarat, with the Victorian jumps season being launched at the track on Tuesday.

Three jumps races have been programmed – $20,000 maiden hurdle, 3200m; $20,000 benchmark125 hurdle, 3200m; and benchmark125 steeplechase, 3200m.

MEANWHILE, Weir saddles up the latest import for OTI Racing at Sandown on Wednesday.

Lightly raced four-year-old Tall Ship makes his Australian debut in the Mitavite Challenge heat five, 1400m.

He has raced seven times in England.

Weir isn’t expecting the import to figure prominently on Wednesday, but believes he’s a nice stayer in the making.

He’s had three trials to prepare him for Australian conditions, with Weir insisting he’s shown improvement at each outing.

“He’s a nice staying type,” Weir said. 

“We’ve put him in here to kick him off and then we’ll just work our way through it from there.”