BALLARAT trainer Darren Weir took the honours for the second day running at the Warrnambool May Carnival on Wednesday.
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Backing up from four wins on the opening day, Weir landed a double – highlighted by Gingerboy ($1.95 favourite) in the $125,000 Galleywood Hurdle, 3200m.
However, Gingerboy’s all-the-way victory was marred by the death of a Ballarat racing community favourite Tuscan Fire.
The Dan O’Sullivan-trained nine-year-old was put down after jockey Brad McLean pulled him up mid-race with a pastern injury.
It was a sad finish to a fine career for a versatile galloper which ran in the 2013 Caulfield Cup.
Tuscan Fire raced 81 times for 12 wins, 13 seconds and 15 thirds for $783,558 in stakes.
He gained the Caulfield Cup start by winning the 2013 Mornington Cup - a performance which guaranteed him a spot in the field.
The Galleywood was his 11th jumps start, of which he won two. He was placed four times.
Tuscan Fire spent his whole racing career with O'Sullivan - becoming the backbone of the Ballarat stable.
The gelding began what would his last campaign with a deadheat for first in the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship Final, 1700m, at Caulfield on January 26.
Wednesday was his first start in a hurdle race this preparation.
Tuscan Fire was the second jumper to be euthanised at the Warrnambool carnival this year, with Cliff's Down suffering the same fate on Tuesday.
Gingerboy was rated perfectly in front by John Allen and always looked the winner.
He staved off a challenge by the Robert Smerdon-prepared Arch Fire after straightening for home and went away by four lengths.
Gingerboy began this preparation with a win in the Mildura Cup, 1400m, and went to Warrnambool off the back of a Sandown hurdle success.
The six-year-old has now won 10 of 41 starts for $350,000.
Gingerboy completed a double for Weir and Allen, who won with Waxing ($2.70) in a maiden hurdle, 3600m.
These gave Weir and Allen four jumps wins in two days after Fastnet Isle ($2.35 favourite) and Paraggi ($5) took out maiden hurdles on Tuesday.
Weir might not be finished yet either. He has three starters in Thursday’s listed $200,000 Warrnambool Cup, 2350m – Falago, Master Zephyr and Master of Arts.
