Benefit taken from last start has Darren Weir confident Voodoo Lad can go one better in Saturday’s $80,000 Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
But the master trainer is not blaming unfamiliarity with the straight track as the reason for that narrow defeat as an odds-on favourite in the All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m).
Weir suggested the son of I Am Invincible’s fitness might have taken its toll in the end, when Ruettiger rallied to beat him, but reported that signs have been positive since that there would not be a repeat this weekend.
“Last start he loomed to win, but after the race he had a big, big blow and he looked a bit showy in the yard to me,” Weir told Racing.com’s Racing Ahead on RSN927.
“He doesn’t look that way this time, so hopefully he’ll run better.”
The Segenhoe-owned six-year-old, who only joined Weir this campaign after previously being prepared by Rod Northam, was the shortest-priced favourite on the Flemington card at $1.95 at 11am Friday.
Weir also has the second-shortest-priced favourite – $2.35 chance Kenjorwood, who runs in the$90,000 Henry Bolte Handicap (1800m) – and the Ballarat horseman suggested he might be a better chance.
Kenjorwood finished fourth in the Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at his most recent start and although beaten home by Onpicalo that day, he meets him 1.5kg better this week and had trained on well.
“He’s going great, he galloped really well during the week, so he’s going to go there in great shape,” Weir said before nominating him as his best chance for a win at Flemington.
“He’s a good racehorse and he makes his own luck.”
Kenjorwood and Voodoo Lad are among a strong team Weir will take to Flemington as he strives to add to his record season haul of 338 wins, which includes 103 metropolitan winners.
Firehouse Rock ($4.40), Ma Jones ($5) and Deal With It ($6) occupy the second line of betting in their respective events, while Weir considers Black Tomahawk ($4.80) the best of his three runners in Race 7.
– racing.com
