Warrnambool hits a high note for Weir

Wednesday 6 May 2015, 12:40pm

If there is one Australian racing carnival Darren Weir sets himself for each year, it is the three-day festival at Warrnambool in May.

Even though Weir often has runners at Group One meetings around the country, it is Warrnambool that is closest to his heart.

The leading Victorian trainer nominated 53 horses across the three days of racing and landed three winners from his 11 runners on the opening day on Tuesday.

He has 15 horses entered for the final day of the carnival including three in the meeting's biggest flat race, the Listed Warrnambool Cup over 2350m.

In past years any trainer able to win four carnival races, as well as one of the feature events, received a new car.

Weir drove away with a Mercedes-Benz 12 months ago when Akzar claimed the Warrnambool Cup to give the trainer his seventh winner of the three-day event.

There is no car offer this year but that hasn't stopped Weir from entering a strong hand for the Cup.

Nor is he deterred by a weather forecast for cold and wet conditions following the intermittent showers which have fallen on the opening two days.

Irish-bred import Tall Ship, to be ridden by Brad Rawiller, is the $4.20 favourite for the Cup on the back of victories in the Stawell and Terang Cups.

"He was bought for these types of races and while he beat Tuscan Fire last time the class overall hasn't been great," Weir said.

"He's doing what they (connections) hoped he would be doing and even if he doesn't win he's had a good prep."

Tooleybuc Kid will be aiming for a third straight success after scoring at Caulfield two starts ago before taking out the Pakenham Cup.

To be ridden by Mark Zahra after Rawiller had the mount at Pakenham, Tooleybuc Kid is a $5.50 second favourite.

"He was good winning the Pakenham Cup," Weir said.

"There's always been some little query whether he can run the trip but I think he'll run it."

Stablemate Count Encosta, a $10 chance, will back-up from his fifth to Second Bullet in a benchmark 90 race at Caulfield last Saturday.

"He didn't have a lot of luck on Saturday but he's fit and well and the wetter the better for him," Weir said.

– AAP

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