Last-start Zipping Classic winner The Taj Mahal is among four nominations from the Mt Macedon Lodge racing empire for Saturday's listed $300,000 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup.
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With Robert Hickmott in the last days in his tenure as trainer for owner Lloyd Williams, his successor Liam Howley is likely to saddle up any starters the stable has in Ballarat.
The Taj Mahal arrived in Australia early in the spring and was prepared by champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien at the Werribee quarantine centre.
The four-year-old has had three Australian starts.
He finished well back in the Caulfield Cup and then fourth in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.
Ben Melham guided him to a comfortable win the Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday.
He is joined by stablemates Assign, Bondi Beach and Foundry in Cup entries.
Assign is a three-time group winner and this preparation has been honest with a fourth in the Turnbull Stakes and fifth in the Coongy Cup.
Bondi Beach has contested the past three Melbourne Cups, while Foundry took out this years' group 1 The Metropolitan in Sydney and was a last-start third in the Bendigo Cup.
Darren Weir heads up a strong Ballarat presence among 28 nominations with three entries.
He is considering running new stable addition and last-start Flemington winner Mr Garcia, Ormito and Shamkiyr.
Matt Cumani is set to start Grey Lion, Charles Quick has entered Jimmie Jim and Caulfield’s Henry Dwyer, who has a satellite stable in Ballarat, will give last-start Ararat Gold Cup winner Sonntag his last race start in the event.
Chris Waller, James Cummings, team Hayes, Tony McEvoy and Robert Smerdon are leading trainers with nominations.