While a number of the spring stars of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team are out having a well-earned break, the stable will have strong representation at the Ballarat Cup meeting.
With stables dotted around Victoria, Ballarat is home to their biggest numbers and Maher and Eustace would dearly love to add a Ballarat Cup to their ever-increasing trophy cabinet.
Thought Of That and Charleise are safely in the Listed race over 2000m on Saturday while Bonvicini and Bartholomeu Dias are emergencies and need scratchings to force their way into the field.
Some ordinary weather is predicted which may see a downgrade from the soft range on Thursday.
Thought Of That, aiming for four straight victories, is the current $3.50 favourite with TAB and Eustace said the stable would prefer not too much rain, noting he is better performed on top of the ground.
“I don’t think it will be a heavy track and if it is soft conditions, he should be OK in it,” Eustace told RSN.
“He’s in excellent form. He’s did a nice piece of work on Tuesday. Linda (Meech) rode him, and she was delighted with him.
He’ll be trying to get on to the front end without doing too much and there is no better front running rider than Linda.”
Eustace says Charleise is be suited on wet ground although she is attempting 2000m for the first time.
Charleise was a last start third at Flemington over 1800m on Melbourne Cup Day.
“It wasn’t as easy to make ground off the slow pace and it was pretty quick ground that day as well which is not really to her liking either,” Eustace said.
“Conditions will suit and with Thought Of That rolling along, it should be a nice even tempo, if not stronger than that.
“Soft ground, big track, we think she ticks a lot of boxes.”
Bonvicini is coming off a last start fourth in the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on November 6, while Bartholomeu Dias has not started since a fading 11th in the Geelong Cup last month.