Victoria Racing Club and Racing Victoria will this year run the inaugural $600,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series.

Eight $50,000 heats have been scheduled for various country tracks, leading to a $200,000 final over 1600 metres at Flemington on Oaks Day.

Only Victorian trainers who do not have a metropolitan training base are eligible – ensuring Ballarat’s Darren Weir will be a key player.

The second heat will be in Ballarat on Thursday, October 12.

Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan has already declared Elite Tiger as a possible contender for the series – if he remains eligible for the restricted class event.

Elite Tiger lines up in the $100,000 David Bourke Provincial Plate, 1600m, at Flemington on Saturday.

O'Sullivan praised the creation of the series.

"Elite Tiger would be the ideal horse for it.” 

BALLARAT gallopers trainer Archie Alexander continues to take big strides with his career.

The English-born Alexander is in his second full season of training and sitting 25th on the Victorian premiership table.

He had his 31st win of the season at Bendigo on Wednesday, when Spunlago ($8.50) saluted in a benchmark70 handicap, 1400m.

Alexander's success has been a great advocate for the Ballarat training complex.

He has been part of a major influx of trainers to Ballarat over the past three years, which also includes Henry Dwyer, Matt Cumani, Michelle Payne, Symon Wiulde, Pat Cannon and New Zealander Mark Brooks.

South Australian Nick Smart is planning to be the next to relocate.

Based at Morphettville, Smart hopes to be based in Ballarat by the start of the new season.

PETACULAR began her pursuit of back-to-back Vicbred Super Series titles in emphatic fashion at Kilmore trots on Thursday night.

Trained and driven by Burrumbeet horseman Michael Stanley, Petacular ($1.10 favourite) led and romped in by seven metres in a 3yo fillies’ heat.

Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart continued her outstanding run in the VSS by qualifying n nine 3yos for semi-finals – adding to the same number of 2yos she had advance from heats at Bendigo on Tuesday night.

She landed a double at Kilmore with filly Miss Graceland and gelding Rocknroll Icon.