Reigning Victorian country horse of the year Vianden has top weight for his Burrumbeet Cup defence on New Year’s Day.
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The country cups specialist has been given 61kg for what will be his third consecutive start in the race if Swan Hill trainer Austy Coffey chooses to make the trip.
Vianden finished second to Unfurl in 2017 and and this year carried 60kg to victory.
Coffey has followed much the same lead up to Burrumbeet with Vianden as he has for the past three years, with runs in the Wycheproof and Nhill Cups.
He has completed the Wycheproof and Nhill winning double 2016 and again last year.
This year Vianden has had to settle for thirds in each of the events, but the 7yo has not been far away.
Burrumbeet Park and Windermere Racing Club has been swamped with nominations for an historic first TAB meeting at the track, with 37 entries for the $25,000 Burrumbeet Cup, 1800m, on Tuesday.
Multitude, which shares top weight, is one of five nominations from the Darren Weir barn.
The 6yo went over the jumps two starts ago before a last-start last in the Port Fairy Cup.
Weir is chasing his fifth win in the cup, having scored with Surifie Pete in 2005 and 2006, Heisman in 2014 and Unfurl in 2017.
Charlevoix is another well in the weights with 60kg as Matt Cumani attempts to join a long list of Ballarat trainers to take out the race.
Charlevoix is a new arrival in his stable, having previously been with David and Ben Hayes, and Tom Dabernig, where he had his last run in a hurdle in July.