Taiyoo after another country Cup

Taiyoo has taken out one Victorian country Cup this spring and will get his chance to give Darren Weir a second Ballarat Cup on his home track.

The seven-year-old gelding snapped a 20-month absence from the winner’s circle when he won the $100,000 Kyneton Cup (2000m) by a long neck on November 2.

The stayer’s next planned start is in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m).

“He’s in good shape,” Weir said.

“His run was good at Moonee Valley two starts ago when he ran third and then he took that to Kyneton.

“Hopefully at Ballarat he’ll run well again. He would have to improve a bit but he’s on the way up, I think.”

Weir said the country Cups had been a target for Taiyoo who finished second in last year’s Adelaide Cup over 3200m.

Victoria’s premier trainer is based at Ballarat, while he also has horses at Warrnambool.

He won the Ballarat Cup with Just The Part in 2004.

“Of course it would be great to win your home town Cup,” Weir said.

“I’ve won one already, so I’m happy with that.”

The Ballarat Cup program is the feature Saturday meeting in Victoria this weekend.

Along with the Cup, the meeting also features the $200,00 Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m), the $100,000 Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic (1100m) and the $100,000 VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1400m) for three-year-olds.