A quartet of little known two-year-olds has signalled the launch of the on-track countdown to Ballarat Cup Day.
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The youngsters from four of the state’s leading stables contested the first of three scheduled clockwise barrier trials at Sportsbet Ballarat on Tuesday – qualifying for the $200,000 Magic Millions 2yo Clockwise Classic, 1000m, to be run at the Cup meeting on Saturday, November 19.
Not only did the gallopers get the tick of approval, so too did the track.
Racing is set to return to the Ballarat circuit next Monday – Melbourne Cup eve – for the first time since August after a wetter than usual start to spring.
Ballarat Turf Club chief executive officer Lachlan McKenzie said the track was in top condition with excellent grass cover.
He said jockeys in the trial had described racing surface as perfect.
The two-year-olds from the Darren Weir, Robert Smerdon, Tony McEvoy and Luke Oliver stables did not miss a beat in the trial and are now eligible for the Clockwise Classic.
“They were very competitive,” McKenzie said.
“All cornered well and less than a length separated them on the line.”
McKenzie reinforced his delight with the turn-out for the first trial, which since the feature event was first run in 2012,had failed to attract any nominations.
Other than entries from New South and Queensland, where races are run clockwise, horses must take part in a clockwise trial in Ballarat to qualify for the classic.
Trial result: Majestueux (trainer Luke Oliver/jockey by Sam Payne) 1, Eloquent King (Tony McEvoy/Luke Currie) 2, Cheeky As (Darren Weir/Jordan Childs) 3, Rioli (Robert Smerdon/Shinya Mori) 4. Margins: neck, head.
Eloquent King is the only one of the four with race experience, having had the one start.
The BTC has attracted 320 entries for the eight events programmed Monday’s race meeting – the club’s last meeting before the Cup.
BALLARAT Turf Club had three retiring committee members re-elected at its annual meeting on Monday night.
Brian Anderson, Bill Gribble and Craig Fletcher were returned.
The club will elect its executive at its next committee meeting.
Con Powell has been the chairman for the past year.