Darren Weir believes Count Encosta is clearly the pick of his three-pronged attack in Sunday’s $200,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup
Darren Weir believes Count Encosta is clearly the pick of his three-pronged attack in Sunday’s $200,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup (2025m).
Also saddling up Perth Cup (2400m) winner Black Tycoon and the former Team Williams import At First Sight, Weir said he expected Count Encosta to have too much of a fitness advantage for his stable mates in the country feature.
“Count Encosta is probably in the best form of my three,” Weir said.
“I’m very pleased with how he’s going, he’s racing really well.
“He should get a lovely run from the barrier which always helps as you need plenty of luck in the big races like this one.”
Drawn barrier two for jockey Dean Yendall, Count Encosta goes into the race on the back of a fifth placing behind Longeron at Caulfield last month.
The eight-year-old is currently rated the $6 second favourite with TAB, which has last year’s Cranbourne Cup third placegetter Mourinho the $4.80 top pick.
Despite support in the early betting – firming from $13 into $11 – Weir said At First Sight, who will begin from gate five for Brad Rawiller, probably wasn’t fit enough to challenge just yet.
“At First Sight is only having his first run back after nearly three years off so he’s still got plenty of improvement still to come,” he said.
“He’ll go to the Kyneton Cup (2000m) after Sunday and we’re trying to get him to the Ballarat Cup (2200m).”
Weir said it was a similar story for Black Tycoon – a $41 chance with TAB drawn barrier eight for Ben Melham - who would need extra distance to be competitive.
His Cranbourne Cup trio aside, Weir will also be represented in the second feature of the 10-race program – the $100,000 Procon Developments Apache Cat Classic (1000m) – by consistent sprinter Let’s Rock’N’Roll.
Drawn the outside barrier ($13) for Rawiller, the son of Fastnet Rock is currently a $9 chance with TAB which has the Peter Moody-trained Angels Beach rated the $3 favourite.
Admitting he was looking forward to Sunday’s program, Weir said he wasn’t overly confident of his chances with so many local trainers targeting the meeting.
“They’re great days these country cups, the clubs always put on a great day but they’re bloody hard days to win races at!”
Racing gets underway on Sunday with the Cranbourne Holden Handicap (1300m), which jumps at 12.00pm, while the day’s action concludes with the Chandler Macleod Handicap (1600m) at 5.48pm.
