Trainer Darren Weir is on target to be a player in the Adelaide Cup next Monday. He has two of the major chances: Taiyoo and Akzar.
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Top-weight Taiyoo is the $2.80 favourite with TAB.com.au after another win in Adelaide on Saturday, while Akzar is on the fourth line of betting at $8.
Taiyoo will carry 59 kilograms, while Akzar will carry 58.5kg.
Two-time Ballarat Cup runner-up Pelicano (57kg) and Renew (55kg), from the Ballarat stable of Archie Alexander, are the only two other nominations above the minimum weight of 53kg.
Weir’s Ballarat team also has Zanteco (53kg) nominated.
Taiyoo confirmed favouritism for the group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup, 3200 metres, with victory in the group 3 $115,000 Lord Reims Stakes, 2600m, at Morphettville.
Taiyoo ($1.40 favourite) held out another Adelaide Cup candidate in Lucky Lucky Lucky ($4.20) to stretch his winning run to five.
It was the five-year-old’s first test at the distance.
Taiyoo is enjoying a remarkable season. He has won seven of his past eight starts since early December, all on metropolitan tracks – three at Sandown Hillside, two at Flemington and one at Moonee Valley before the Adelaide assignment.
This makes Taiyoo the most successful galloper on Victorian tracks this season. He is also the most prolific metropolitan class winner.
Adelaide has been a happy hunting ground for Weir. He had his first major breakthrough at Morphettville when She’s Archie gave him his first group 1 success in the 2002 South Australian Oaks.
Sprinting mare Platelet is also a dual group 1 winner in South Australia for Weir and Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, which also races Taiyoo.
However, the Adelaide Cup has so far eluded Weir.
BALLARAT Turf Club has its fourth consecutive Thursday racing meeting this week.
The fourth heat of the Porter Plant Cup Series will be the feature event, and the last lead-up event to the $50,000 Porter Plant Cup, 1400m, at Sportsbet-Ballarat on Thursday, March 12.
Pendles, trained by Darren Weir and part-owned by Tim Porter, won the opening heat on Thursday, February 12.
The fourth $17,500 benchmark64 heat over 1200m has 48 nominations.