Ballarat Cup Day Preview 2023

Ballarat comes alive this weekend with the country town set to host their biggest race meeting of the year.

Headlined by the running of the $300k Listed Ballarat Cup, the ten race program will also feature the $250k Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic and the $175k Classic for the 3 & 4 year olds.

The rail will be out 2m from the 400m to the winning post and in the true position for the remainder.

The track is currently rated a good 4 but with showers expected later in the week it’s likely we’ll see a track downgrade before the meeting commences.

Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.

Sunset Dreaming lines up as the most experienced runner in the field.

In five race starts the Impending filly has saluted on two occasions and has worked home nicely at her past two appearances, which have both been at stakes level.

On the quick back up after contesting the Group Two Sandown Guineas last weekend, she drops back in trip and gets the blinkers on for the first time.

Harry Coffey knows her well having partnered her to all five outings and he retains the ride for Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

1 unit – SUNSET DREAMING

Placed in both runs to date Arabian Summer looks ready to shed her maiden tag. 

The daughter of Too Darn Hot was solid on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield.

Taking up the lead she was only run down in the final 100m but stuck on well for second with a further 2.75 length gap back to third.  

She then contested the Group Three Ottawa Stakes where she again led them up but just looked a bit lost over the final part up the Flemington straight.

Better for the experience, she looks well placed here in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic.

1 unit – ARABIAN SUMMER

Give Giggles remains unbeaten in three runs here at her home track.

Having had just the five starts the locally trained mare was only narrowly beaten on debut at Bendigo before recording three successive wins. 

She wasn’t disgraced in BM80 grade at Flemington last start.  

One of only two runners to stick to the inside rail she fought on gamely as those down the outside certainly appeared to have an advantage.  

She’ll appreciate the drop back in grade and gets the benefit of the inside draw.

Harry Coffey will again partner up with team McEvoy and the tongue tie goes on for the first time. 

1 unit – GIVE GIGGLES

Prairie Flower has performed very well in two runs back this campaign.

Now under the care of local trainer Henry Dwyer, the Star Turn mare finished off powerfully when resuming over 1100m at Seymour.  

She then made the trip to Flemington on Champions Day where again she finished off strongly against a quality field. 

The step to 1200m will suit and she has performed well in both runs here.

Mitchell Aitken retains the mount and will afford her every chance from barrier two.   

1 unit – PRAIRIE FLOWER

Excelleration returned to the races with a solid first up effort over the mile at Flemington.

After settling back in the field, the son of Excelebration worked home strongly, giving the impression he’ll appreciate stepping out over more ground.

Only lightly raced, the seven year old has performed consistently throughout his fifteen start career and looks ideally placed here, up in trip and back in grade.

Declan Bates stays in the saddle and he’s set to get the right run from gate three.

1 unit – EXCELLERATION

Golden Crusader resumes.

The former UK galloper put together back to back wins last campaign and looks to have plenty of upside.

He was strong through the line in a recent 1400m Cranbourne jump out and has won first up over the mile previously.

Set to receive every chance from the good gate under Jamie Kah and any moisture in the track will only enhance his chances.

1 unit – GOLDEN CRUSADER

A Little Deep returned off a long break with a dominant display over 1000m at Moe back in October.

The four year old daughter of Deep Field has only had the three starts and was ultra impressive winning on debut last year. 

Following that she lined up in last year’s edition of this race where she finished the runner up on a heavy 8 surface.

With seven weeks since her first up win she’s been given two 800m jump outs to keep her ticking over and looks ready to go here.

Possessing plenty of natural talent she should prove very hard to beat if she does everything right.

John Allen goes on for the Maher / Eustace team. 

2 units – A LITTLE DEEP

Young Werther is the class horse of the field and comes here off a terrific last start performance in the Group One Champion Stakes which saw him finish third behind Atishu.

The Tavistock gelding has only retuned to the winner’s stall on three occasions but he has raced at the top level throughout his career and has five group one placings to his name. 

He has a terrific record over the 2000m and has drawn to get the right run under Billy Egan.

Back to handicap conditions he does have to lump the big weight, but that shouldn’t worry him as he did salute under 61.5kgs three starts back.

1 unit – YOUNG WERTHER

Taunting has been racing in top form and comes here off a dominant last start victory over 1000m.

After taking up the running the son of Brazen Beau showed a good kick in the straight to pull away, putting up a two length margin on the line. 

A four time winner over this trip he looks ideally placed and with showers predicted it’s hard to go past him.

The wide alley is a slight concern but he does possess good early speed and if he can cross without doing too much work, he’ll be right there at the finish.

1 unit – TAUNTING

Lounge Bar Rubi kicked off his campaign with a solid effort under the big weight at Flemington. 

The four year old has put together a nice record, with five wins from just twelve starts and he will have taken good improvement from his first up outing. 

The step to 1400m will suit and he’s drawn ideally in gate six under Jordan Childs, who takes the mount for Mark and Levi Kavanagh.

1 unit – LOUNGE BAR RUBI