Darren Weir is hoping to use Saturday’s Moonee Valley meeting as a springboard towards the Mornington Cup for promising stayer Prince of Penzance.
Weir rates Prince of Penzance, one of three horses from his stable racing on Saturday, as his best chance at the Moonee Valley meeting.
So do punters with the gelding a $4.80 second favourite for the Sportingbet Best Tote Plus Handicap (1600m) behind $4.60 top pick Stradale for Anthony Freedman.
Weir regarded Prince of Penzance’s last-start seventh to the in-form Sistine Demon as a great run.
“He raced with no luck and hopefully he’ll go well on Saturday,” Weir said.
“He’s in good order and he’ll gradually progress once he gets over 2000-metres.”
The trainer is targeting Prince of Penzance towards the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in February, a race which earns the winner automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.
Weir’s two other runners at Moonee Valley, King Buddy and Our Hand of Faith, will both contest the City Jeep Handicap (1200m).
“It’s unfortunate that they are both in the same race,” he said.
“That’s just the way it goes and you can’t do much about it.”
Weir said King Buddy ($11) would face a tough task with equal topweight of 60kg and a midfield gate in nine.
The seven-year-old comes into the race off a last-start third at Caulfield over 1100-metres.
Our Hand of Faith was sent to Weir from the Anthony Cummings stable in a move instigated by one of his owners, Ken McDonald.
Weir said the decision was made so the horse could work on the beach near his Warrnambool stable.
The gelding, who strung together three consecutive wins in Sydney during the spring of last year, underwent an operation to remove a chip from a joint and has since spent more than 12 months on the sidelines.
He tuned up for his return with a barrier trial at Camperdown last month but Weir expects him to need further racing to show his best.
“We’re happy with the order of the horse but he’ll benefit from the run,” Weir said.
“He’s got the work in his legs but he hasn’t got match practice.”
