Darren Weir is out to finish the 2009-10 season on a high note with three runners at Caulfield on Saturday including last-start course and distance winner Tonic.The grey daughter of Dash For Cash was having her first start for Weir after previously being with the Robert Smerdon stable and, despite resuming after an 11-month layoff, was good enough to win over 1200m on July 17.The rising five-year-old contests the Congratulations Peter Moody Handicap and again meets Rhythm In Paris and the Moody-
Darren Weir is out to finish the 2009-10 season on a high note with three runners at Caulfield on Saturday including last-start course and distance winner Tonic.
The grey daughter of Dash For Cash was having her first start for Weir after previously being with the Robert Smerdon stable and, despite resuming after an 11-month layoff, was good enough to win over 1200m on July 17.
The rising five-year-old contests the Congratulations Peter Moody Handicap and again meets Rhythm In Paris and the Moody-trained Glaze, mares she beat into second and third placings last start.
"She had a little chip taken out of a joint," Weir said, explaining Tonic's long layoff before that victory.
"Judy Holden pre-trained her and did a very good job with her."
If Tonic, who will again be ridden by Steven King, wins or at least goes close on Saturday it would set her up for a crack at the Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 14.
Tonic was one of 20 Melbourne winners Weir has prepared so far this season, placing him equal 11th with Robbie Griffiths to premier trainer Moody (82 wins) and one short of his best tally in Melbourne set in 2006-07.
Weir is very happy with his lot at present having landed his 144th winner throughout Australia this season when Rue Maple won at Moonee Valley last Saturday, placing him third behind Peter Snowden (226-1/2) and Moody (192).
"I'm getting a better class of horse and starting to get more runners in Melbourne now which is good. It's something I want to do," he said.
Weir, 40, has 85 horses in work at Ballarat and over 200 on his books and he trialled 40 horses at Burrumbeet on Tuesday.
Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley has sent Weir several horses to prepare including a recent purchase, New Zealand Group One-winning mare Culminate formerly trained by Steven McKee.
Weir's other two runners at Caulfield are The Night's Hot in the Join MRC and Receive $2000 Instant Value Hcp (1800m) and Gotta Keep Cool in the Chisholm Institute Hcp (1800m).
Weir also has three runners at Morphettville including Broadway Harmony, to be ridden by stable apprentice Jarrod Fry in the Listed Reliance Petroleum Stakes (1050m).