Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir is no stranger to setting records and he is on target for another in Wednesday’s $250,000 Launceston Cup.
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Weir has a chance to become the first trainer in the modern era to land the quinella with Andrea Mantegna, a firming $4.60 favourite, and Bondeiger ($6.50).
Andrea Mantenga, an imported horse who began his racing career in France, ran in the Hobart Cup and has been penalised 1kg for his close second.
Bondeiger, a former Victoria Derby runner-up who went winless for more than three years before recently returning to form, will be making his Tasmanian debut.
Weir expects both horses to be hard to beat.
“I find it hard to split them – they both have a lot of upside,” the trainer said.
“In these type of races, I’ve found that 1kg can be the difference between winning and losing so, for that reason, Bondeiger might have a slight edge.
“But Andrea Mantegna ran well in a similar field in Hobart and meets the winner (Pretty Punk) 1.5kg better.”
Weir said that both his horses appreciated some give in the track and the showers forecast for Cup Day would help their cause.
The Mowbray track for Sunday’s Tasmanian Oaks meeting was in perfect condition.
Andrea Mantegna will be ridden by Damian Lane, who is second on the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership, and Bondeiger by Regan Bayliss who is 13th.
- Victorian filly chasing gold – Page 29
