The Robert Smerdon-trained Ungrateful Ellen is the early favourite in an open market for the $300,000 Ballarat Cup.
Saturday’s Ballarat meeting brings the Victorian spring racing carnival to a close and the 10-race program is highlighted by the Cup over 2200m and the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) for two-year-olds.
The Ballarat Cup has attracted a full field of 18 with Ungrateful Ellen at $6 ahead of Akzar, Tooleybuc Kid, Sysmo and Mujadale at $10.
Mujadale is chasing back-to-back Ballarat Cup wins while Akzar and Tooleybuc Kid are prepared by Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir whose main training base is at Ballarat.
Ungrateful Ellen is yet to win this spring but steps beyond 2000m for the first time this campaign after a last-start fourth in the Matriarch Stakes.
She finished 3-1/2 lengths second to subsequent Cox Plate winner Winx over the Ballarat Cup distance in the Queensland Oaks this year.
The Magic Millions Clockwise Classic is run in the reverse direction to usual races in Victoria and is restricted to Magic Millions sales graduates.
It gives Victorian horses a chance to race in the clockwise direction ahead of a possible tilt at the rich Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
Bring Me The Bling, a Hawkes Racing-trained filly making her debut, is the $3 favourite ahead of Preferito ($3.40) who is trained by Gai Waterhouse.
