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Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir says the Cox Plate is next on his radar after conquering the world’s richest handicap race.
Speaking to The Courier at his Forest Lodge stables on Wednesday, Weir said he is still caught up in post-Cup celebrations and hasn't had a moment to fully reflect on the achievement just yet.
“It has been pretty full on since the race,” he said. “So haven't really had a chance to have a look at the outcome and have a think about it yet.
“Today is a busy day, with Kyneton Cup and Oaks Day on Thursday, then Friday I'll sit down and have a think about it and the horses that are running on Emirates (Stakes) Day as well.”
Weir got to live out every Australian trainer’s dream on Tuesday winning a Melbourne Cup with Prince of Penzance – his fifth starter in the Group 1 feature.
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Racing internationally isn’t on Weir’s agenda just yet, with plenty of coveted Australian races still to tick off. He said Australia’s premier weight-for-age race is now top of his wish list.
“A Cox Plate would be nice, but I might be dreaming a bit,” he said.
“That would be a nice race to target and hopefully I'll have a horse one day good enough to run in it.
“We'll just try and focus on the carnivals – autumn, spring, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane – I'm happy doing that.”
So haven't really had a chance to have a look at the outcome and have a think about it yet."
- Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir
Staff from his Warrnambool stables journeyed to Ballarat on Tuesday night to join the party and Weir said the team certainly savoured the moment.
“It was a great night,” he said.
Ballarat racegoers will get the opportunity to get up close with the famous Melbourne Cup trophy, with it to be on display at this month’s Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup before finding a “special spot” in Weir’s entertainment room.
The Ballarat Turf Club confirmed on Wednesday that Prince of Penzance would also lead the Ballarat Cup field onto the track.
Weir said the six-year-old gelding would go to the paddock for a spell following what he described as a near-perfect five-race preparation leading into the cup.
“The preparation went absolutely fantastic until the second last run at Caulfield (Herbert Power Stakes) where he ran a shocker,” he said of the eighth place finish.
“He shouldn't have ran as bad as he did, so I guess you have some reservations (heading into the Melbourne Cup).
“Then we were able to get back to Moonee Valley in the cup, we put some blinkers on him and he ran really well (second).”