Puccini
Race Images Palmers North
Darren Weir will be looking to add another Cup to his ever expanding trophy cabinet at Mornington on Saturday.
Already this season, the trainer has collected 20 Cup races around the country including the biggest one of all, the Melbourne Cup with Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire).
Weir has three chances to add to his tally when he saddles Puccini (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), Falago (Fastnet Rock) and Ancient King (Ramonti) in the $300,000 Mornington Cup on Saturday.
The winner of the Listed race over 2400m gains an automatic start in the Caulfield Cup in the spring.
Killarney Kid (NZ) (Pendragon) gave Weir his most recent Cup winner at Stawell last Sunday.
Former New Zealander Puccini is the highest fancied of the trio at $8 with Yarra Glen Cup winner Falago at $15 and Colac Cup winner Ancient King at $31.
Puccini is backing up from a last start fourth behind Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel) in the Easter Cup at Caulfield last Saturday.
"I thought he had his chance the other day," Weir said.
"Hopefully he'll be a bit fitter and he'll get his chance again."
A winner of the New Zealand Derby in 2014, Puccini will be having his first shot at the distance since running fifth to Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) in the Australian Derby two years ago.
Weir said plans for Puccini are to head further north to the Brisbane winter carnival
Already this season, the trainer has collected 20 Cup races around the country including the biggest one of all, the Melbourne Cup with Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire).
Weir has three chances to add to his tally when he saddles Puccini (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), Falago (Fastnet Rock) and Ancient King (Ramonti) in the $300,000 Mornington Cup on Saturday.
The winner of the Listed race over 2400m gains an automatic start in the Caulfield Cup in the spring.
Killarney Kid (NZ) (Pendragon) gave Weir his most recent Cup winner at Stawell last Sunday.
Former New Zealander Puccini is the highest fancied of the trio at $8 with Yarra Glen Cup winner Falago at $15 and Colac Cup winner Ancient King at $31.
Puccini is backing up from a last start fourth behind Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel) in the Easter Cup at Caulfield last Saturday.
"I thought he had his chance the other day," Weir said.
"Hopefully he'll be a bit fitter and he'll get his chance again."
A winner of the New Zealand Derby in 2014, Puccini will be having his first shot at the distance since running fifth to Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) in the Australian Derby two years ago.
Weir said plans for Puccini are to head further north to the Brisbane winter carnival