Trainer Darren Weir believes some of Victoria’s lucrative country Cups would be nice targets for Pacodali next season after the import made it back-to-back wins at Flemington.
Weir had four of the nine runners in Saturday’s George Watson Handicap (2000m) and Pacodali ($4.60) led home a stable trifecta, holding off fast-finishing Master Zephyr ($15) by a long neck with another half a length to Killarney Kid ($9.50) in third.
Loresho, Weir’s other runner, finished at the tail of the field.
Pacodali won over the same course and distance two weeks earlier and the Irish import’s victory on Saturday was his third from five Australian starts.
Jockey Michael Dee had Pacodali well-positioned in fourth before creeping closer to the lead to be in striking distance at the top of the home straight.
Dee waited until about the 250m to ask Pacodali for a supreme effort and he kicked to the front and opened a winning break over Master Zephyr who finished strongly down the outside.
“Full credit goes to Micky because I reckon the ride won the race,” Weir said.
“He had the race in control a long way out but he just waited and timed it perfectly.
“Had he gone a bit earlier than he did the other horse might have got him.”
Weir pinpointed some of Victoria’s country Cups as potential targets in the new season.
“I think he’ll make a great Ballarat Cup or Bendigo Cup sort of horse,” he said.
“So I’d say we will target those sorts of races.”
