While the action of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival heats up Ascot Racecourse over in WA this Saturday, the end-of-season racing continues in Victoria with the 2011 Ballarat Cup.
Domesky is one of two 2011 Ballarat Cup entries for trainer Michael Kent
Headlining an exciting 10-race Saturday program, the $150,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) has attracted 22 horses at nomination stage this year.
Topweight of the entries is the former Queensland galloper, the now Peter Moody-trained Rothera with 59kg.
The Tobougg six-year-old returned to form last Saturday with an eye-catching one and a quarter length victory in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown’s Zipping Classic Day, Moody hoping to send them out for the season on a high with another stakes win this weekend.
Following Rothera in the Ballarat Cup 2011 ballot and weights are then the Michael Moroney-trained Queensland Cup winner Tinseltown and Dansili eight-year-old Illustrious Blue on 58kg, Robert Smerdon’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes placegetter Paddy O’Reilly on 56.5kg and Cranbourne Cup hero Boom ‘ N’ Zoom with 56.5kg.
Meanwhile Cranbourne-based horseman Michael Kent will attempt to go back-to-back in the Ballarat Cup following the success of My Bentley 12 months ago nominating Red Buttons and Domesky.
Seven-year-old Red Ransom gelding Red Buttons was last seen finishing a disappointing sixth to Lucky Eighty Eight in the Kyneton Cup (2000m) on November 2, a race they won the year before after also winning the 2010 Moe Cup.
Domesday four-year-old Domesky showed more promise last start when finishing a nose away second to Musical Hit in a 2000 metre handicap at Flemington on November 5 carrying 58.5kg.
It was a solid run from a horse that only beat home two other runners when 16th in the Caulfield Cup, Domesky sure to appreciate the drop back to 55kg for the Ballarat Cup.
Other notable Ballarat Cup nominees include Brian Jenkins’ last-start Matriarch Stakes runner-up Stole, the David Hayes-trained former WATC Derby winner Chartreux and Pat Carey’s Eclipse Stakes third placegetter Ulundi.
The 2011 Ballarat Cup final field and barrier draw will be released on Thursday morning and published right here at Races.com.au so make sure you bookmark this site.
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2011 Ballarat Cup Nominations, Ballot & Weights
| # | Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROTHERA | Peter G Moody | 1 | 59kg | 104 |
| 2 | ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE (GB) | Luke Oliver | 3 | 58kg | 102 |
| 3 | TINSELTOWN (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 2 | 58kg | 102 |
| 4 | PADDY O’REILLY (NZ) | Robert Smerdon | 4 | 56.5kg | 99 |
| 5 | BOOM ’N’ ZOOM | Ken Keys | 5 | 56kg | 98 |
| 6 | RED BUTTONS | Michael Kent | 6 | 55.5kg | 97 |
| 7 | DOMESKY | Michael Kent | 7 | 55kg | 95 |
| 8 | TEXAN WARNEY | Darryl Dodson | 8 | 54kg | 92 |
| 9 | APPREHEND | Tony Vasil | 12 | 53.5kg | 85 |
| 10 | CHARTREUX | David Hayes | 11 | 53.5kg | 86 |
| 11 | DORSODURO | Kelvin Bourke | 22 | 53.5kg | 64 |
| 12 | FLYING HULA | Darren Weir | 19 | 53.5kg | 70 |
| 13 | FOXHAM | Tony McEvoy | 10 | 53.5kg | 89 |
| 14 | MUSICAL HIT | Ken Keys | 13 | 53.5kg | 85 |
| 15 | NIPTIOUS | Danny Curran | 15 | 53.5kg | 80 |
| 16 | NOBLE DESTINY | Todd Balfour | 21 | 53.5kg | 66 |
| 17 | SEA GALLEON | Colin & Cindy Alderson | 18 | 53.5kg | 72 |
| 18 | SEAN BAILE MOR | Todd Balfour | 14 | 53.5kg | 82 |
| 19 | SERTORIUS | Jamie Edwards & Bruce Elkington | 17 | 53.5kg | 72 |
| 20 | SOVEREIGN RISK (NZ) | Fran Houlahan & Brian Johnston | 20 | 53.5kg | 66 |
| 21 | STOLE (NZ) | Brian Jenkins | 9 | 53.5kg | 89 |
| 22 | ULUNDI | Pat Carey | 16 | 53.5kg | 78 |
