Today the highlight of thoroughbred racing in Victoria will take place in Ballarat at Dowling Forest racecourse, with the running of the $130 000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m).
Current favourite for the race, Mark Kavanagh’s Itstheone at $4.60, will start from the ideal barrier two with Kerrin McEvoy aboard. A win today will be a beautiful end to a sensational spring season for Kavanagh, who took out the coveted Melbourne Cup with the up-and-coming stayer Shocking back on November 3.
Close second favourite at $5, is the legendary Bart Cummings entry Dandaad. Coming off a brave second place in the Geelong Cup on October 21 to Leica Ding, Dandaad stands a good chance today starting from barrier seven and ridden by Chris Symons.
Another star runner is Daryl Cannon‘s Bourbonstreetblues, currently a $6 chance. The in-form stayer has drawn widely with barrier 17 and is aiming for his fifth straight country cup victory.
The 18 horse field has a strong local presence this year, with six horses representing Ballarat stables. The best two chances for the cup to remain in its home-town look to be the Barry James-trained Sylvan O’Reilly ($12) from the outside gate one and Darren Weir’s Oak Heart ($14) with barrier 14.
The Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup is scheduled as race eight at Ballarat today.
Listed Ballarat Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:
No |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
Penalty |
Handicapper Rating |
| 1 |
GALLIONS REACH (NZ) |
Richard Yuill | Dwayne Dunn | 9 | 57.5 | 102 | |
| 2 |
DAVCON |
Heath Conners | 13 | 55 | 96 | ||
| 3 |
BOURBONSTREETBLUES |
Daryl Cannon | Dean Yendall | 17 | 54.5 | 95 | |
| 4 |
DANDAAD (NZ) |
Bart Cummings | Chris Symons | 7 | 54.5 | 95 | |
| 5 |
DAKA’S GEM |
David Brideoake | Ben Melham | 11 | 53.5 | 92 | |
| 6 |
LADIES IN LUCK (NZ) |
Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | Brian Park | 12 | 53 | 92 | |
| 7 |
BOLLE |
Barbara Marshman | Nathan Rose (a) | 10 | 53 | 89 | |
| 8 |
DIAMONDSONDINSIDE |
Luke Oliver | Craig Newitt | 18 | 53 | 89 | |
| 9 |
ITSTHEONE (NZ) |
Mark Kavanagh | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 53 | 89 | |
| 10 |
SENTIRE (NZ) |
Robbie Laing | Jason Maskiell (a) | 6 | 53 | 87 | |
| 11 |
ESCAPE ARTIST |
Peter White | Roger Booth | 15 | 53 | 84 | |
| 12 |
SYLVAN O’REILLY (NZ) |
Barry James | Danny Nikolic | 1 | 53 | 82 | |
| 13 |
GOLDEN CHARMER |
Dan O’Sullivan | Peter Mertens | 5 | 53 | 77 | |
| 14 |
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL |
Damien Hunter | Garry Murphy | 3 | 53 | 77 | |
| 15 |
KINUGAWA |
Go Shigemi | Jarrod Fry (a) | 4 | 53 | 76 | |
| 16 |
OAK HEART |
Darren Weir | Linda Meech | 14 | 53 | 72 | |
| 17 |
RED RIVIERA |
Terry Kelly | Matt Pumpa | 16 | 53 | 70 | |
| 18 |
SEEK THE STARS |
Mick Cerchi | Jason Lyon | 8 | 53 | 68 |
