DARREN Weir’s spring assault will have an added French flavour.
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Already with Puissance de Lune preparing for another tilt at group 1 glory in a Victorian Spring Carnival, Weir will also target spring riches with new import Mobaco.
The French-bred and OTI-owned six-year-old is yet to race in Australia, but did trial for Gai Waterhouse at Randwick in February.
Mobaco has an impressive overseas record, with seven wins in France, including a listed event and group 3.
He heads into the spring without a race start since July last year, when he campaigned in England.
Mobaco is one of five nominations for Weir in the $3 million Caulfield Cup, 2400m, on October 18 and seven in the $3m Cox Plate, 2040m, at Moonee Valley on October 25.
He joins Puissance de Lune, Prince Of Penzance, Signoff and Black Tycoon in the Caulfield Cup and Ava’s Delight, Lake Sententia, May’s Dream, Puissance de Lune, Prince Of Penzance and
Signoff in the Cox Plate
Black Tycoon is another stable newcomer for Weir.
Previously prepared by Justin Warwick in Western Australia, Black Tycoon won this year’s group 1 Perth Cup and is a last-start Adelaide Cup runner-up.
Ballarat trainer Daniel P Kelly has nominated three-year-old Hunters Grace for the Caulfield Cup.
Hunters Grace took out the $100,000 Inglis VOBIS 2yo Gold Plate, 1000m, at Bendigo last season.
Kelly has also entered the gelding for the $1m Caulfield Guineas, 1600m, on October 11 and $750,000 Caulfield Classic, 2000m, on October 18, as well as Roycey for the Caulfield Guineas.
By Gonski, Roycey ($21) saluted on debut in a three-year-old maiden, 1000m, at Geelong on Tuesday.
Also among Caulfield Cup nominations are the Marco Botti-trained and Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock-raced Dandino and Kelini, Robert Smerdon’s Livery and More Than Sacred, and Martinvast, which is prepared by rookie trainer Archie Alexander, as well as the Patrick duo of Turner Bayou and Zanbagh.
More Than Sacred hails from New Zealand and at his latest outing finished third in the group 1 Auckland Cup in March this year.
Other Ballarat stable/satellite stable nominations for feature spring races:
$1m Caulfield Guineas, 1600m, on October 11: Berning Desire (Robert Smerdon), Brouhaha (Robert Smerdon), Husson Eagle (Patrick Payne), Imperial Attitude (Darren Weir), Kaizewn (Robert Smerdon), Kaye Club (Robert Smerdon), Lethal (Darren Weir), Raposo (Patrick Payne), Stratum Star (Darren Weir)
$500,000 Thousand Guineas, 160m, at Caulfield on October 11: Amanzi (Darren Weir), Bryony (Robert Smerdon), Crafty (Robert Smerdon), Fontein Ruby (Robert Smerdon), Japhils (Darren Weir), Luskin Belle (Darren Weir), Penryn Pearl (Darren Weir), Queen Of The Nile (Robert Smerdon), Rainbow Bel (Darren Weir), Reann’s Diamond (Darren Weir), Shellac (Robert Smerdon), Svalbard (Darren Weir), Unfurl (Darren Weir)
$750,000 Caulfield Classic, 2000m, on October 18: Berning Desire (Robert Smerdon), Brouhaha (Robert Smerdon), Bryony (Robert Smerdon), Crafty (Robert Smerdon), Fontein Ruby (Robert Smerdon), Kaizewn (Robert Smerdon), Kaye Club (Robert Smerdon), Queen Of The Nile (Robert Smerdon), Shellac (Robert Smerdon)
Cox Plate, 2040m, on October 25: More Than Sacred (Robert Smerdon), Zanbagh (Patrick Payne)
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au