A win by longshot Extra Zero would give Lindsay Park back to back shock wins in the Listed $300,000 Ballarat Cup (2200m) at Ballarat on Saturday.
Extra Zero, above, is one of the outsiders of the Ballarat Cup field. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Regan Baylisss was aboard $16 Ballarat Cup winner Pilote D’Essai last year and gets the ride on veteran stayer Extra Zero this year.
The David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Extra Zero is currently listed at $18 for the Ballarat Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au and is coming off a last start fourth to Dodging Bullets in the $100,000 Kyneton Cup (2000m) at Kyneton on November 8.
Extra Zero has drawn nicely at barrier four in the thirteen horse field and Bayliss is giving the eleven year old a solid chance of finishing amongst the prizemoney.
“He’s an old warhorse and an old stable favourite that started his racing career long before I did,” Bayliss told AAP.
“He’s never far away in his races and his run in the Kyneton Cup suggests he ready to run a really cheeky race.
“He’s drawn a beautiful barrier in what looks an even Ballarat Cup.”
Extra Zero is a veteran of one hundred and seven race starts and found the winner’s stall on seven occasions as well as running second twenty-three times plus ten third place finishes.
The Danzero gelding has performed well at the high level with a second in the 2009 Group 1 $1.5m Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington and a second by the narrowest of margins to his stablemate Spillway in the Group 1 $1m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
The Darren Weir trained Mr Garcia has been well supported at the top of the Ballarat Cup market order and is a firm favourite at $2.90 ahead of the Chris Waller trained top weight Antonio Giuseppe at $5.50 and European import Grey Lion at $6.
Mr Garcia was having his first start in Australia under the banner of German trainer Andreas Wohler when Kerrin McEvoy carried the blue, black and white colours of Australian Bloodstock to victory at Flemington.
Darren Weir has since taken over the reins on Mr Garcia who had won three times from eighth starts in England before heading down under.
Apprentice Ben Allen takes the ride on Mr Garcia who has drawn barrier nine in the thirteen horse Ballarat Cup field.
