Trainer David Brideoake says he could not have 10-year-old Daka's Gem going any better as he tries to win the Ballarat Cup for the second year in a row on Wednesday.Since 1946 only five horses have won the 2200m Cup twice and only three have won it in successive years.The oldest runner in this year's field, Daka's Gem is on a 17-race losing streak not having won since last year's Ballarat Cup but he has regained form at the right time.He has a better form line than a year ago, following his thir

Trainer David Brideoake says he could not have 10-year-old Daka's Gem going any better as he tries to win the Ballarat Cup for the second year in a row on Wednesday.

Since 1946 only five horses have won the 2200m Cup twice and only three have won it in successive years.

The oldest runner in this year's field, Daka's Gem is on a 17-race losing streak not having won since last year's Ballarat Cup but he has regained form at the right time.

He has a better form line than a year ago, following his third to Savquaw on a heavy track in the Moe Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne with third to Zupacool in the Bendigo Cup (2200m) and second to Bourbonstreetblues in the Kyneton Cup (2000m).

"He is a better horse on soft tracks but his form lately on firm ground has been good," Brideoake said.

"It was very hard track at Bendigo and a very hard track at Kyneton and he ran bottlers both times."

Daka's Gem was one of Western Australia's leading stayers where his best win was a dead-heat with Scenic Shot at weight-for-age in the 2006 Group Two Cox Stakes (2400m) before his owners sent him to Brideoake for the country Cups.

He had his first start for the stable when fourth in the 2008 Warrnambool Cup, ran second in Geelong's 2008 Briseis Gold Cup and last autumn finished fourth in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

"Anyone would love to have a horse like him," Brideoake said.

"He's had 95 starts and been averaging $7,500 in prizemoney every time he has gone around."

Brideoake said that despite Daka's Gem's advancing years, and winning just once for the stable, he had been a remarkable campaigner.

"He is such a good horse and been so good for the stable we would be just so thrilled if he could win the Cup again tomorrow," Brideoake said.

"He is a beauty and he's going fantastic.

"His legs are good and he is just thriving.

"There are few good chances tomorrow but anyone who leaves him out of their multiples does it at their own peril."