Porter Plant Cup goes to all-weather surface specialist
JUST: Design Rouge, left, works his way past sinde runner No Change to get the money in the $50,000 Porter Plan Cup in Ballarat. Picture: Racing Photos
Mornington galloper Design Rouge again showed her liking for synthetic surfaces by saluting in the $50,000 Porter Plant Cup, 1500m, in Ballarat on Thursday.
The five-year-old wore down leader No Change ($7) to get the verdict by a head, with Honourable Mention ($5.50) a half head away third.
Dean Yendall was in the saddle for his only ride of the day.
Trained by Shane Nichols, Design Rouge ($5.50) has developed a fine record on the all-weather tracks of Ballarat and Pakenham.
He now boasts four wins - three in Ballarat and one at Pakenham - and three minor placings from nine starts.
While this has worked in the favour of the son of Written Tycoon, with Thursday being the last synthetic meeting in Victoria of the year Nichols now faces a new challenge of finding the right track for him.
Nichols said Design Rouge was a terrific horse to have in the stable.
"He's lovely and easy to deal with."
Design Rouge started out with Aaron Purcell before joining the stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to launch is racing career.
He moved into Nichol's care at the start of the year, with four wins coming since.
Nichols is hoping his group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon can keep the stable's run going in the group 2 $250,000 Feehan Stakes, 1600m, at The Valley on Saturday.
SPEEDY mare Balle D'Or made ($1.55 favourite) it back-to-back wins in the Sportsbet Benchmark64, 1000m.
Fresh from an 1100m track record run on the same circuit at her previous start, Balle D'Or enjoyed a sit off the pace before romping home by three lengths for Ballarat trainer Simon Morrish and jockey Dwayne Dunn.
Morrish said the six-year-old was a credit to herself.
He said she had had a lot of issues with her feet, but was now sound and that was behind her.
He paid credit to Dunn for not getting caught up in the early speed battle and instead choosing to take a sit.
Morrish said he would now look to get a metropolitan win with Balle D'Or, perhaps at The Valley - something would enhance her prospects as a broodmare down the track.
MATT Cumani is taking over the training of a Melbourne and Caulfield Cups hopeful from Europe.
Group 2 winner San Hubert is being transferred by principal owner OTI Racing from French trainer Fabrice Chappet to Cumani's Ballarat stable.
The five-year-old entire won the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, 3000m, at Chantilly in France in June.
San Hubert has won four of 11 career starts.