Darren Weir has won the Bendigo Cup with True Courser and Puissance De Lune and the leading Victorian trainer is hoping that progressive stayer Signoff can give him another win in the Listed event during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Signoff strolled to victory in his final race start before heading to the spelling paddock. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Signoff has not been seen at the races since he scored a dominant five lengths in the Medownick Laser Clinic Handicap (2500m) at Moonee Valley on March 29, but he has been back in work for a month and a half as he builds towards the start of his spring preparation.
The Authorized gelding was touted as a contender for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) after his string of impressive performance in his maiden racing campaign, but Weir told Racing Victoria that Signoff is likely to be set for the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 29 and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 8 – the same path that Puissance De Lune followed during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival.
“Signoff’s good, he’s ticking along good,” Weir said.
“Him and Puissance De Lune are going to the sand dunes now.
“Signoff he’s Bendigo Cup bound, but we’ll just see what happens with him.
“They’re getting right into the swing of things.”
Signoff made his racing debut with a win at Terang on December 9 last year and took out the Pittard Training Group Handicap (1512m) at Geelong on Boxing Day before making his metropolitan racing debut with an unlucky fifth place finish in the BMW Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield on January 15.
The four-year-old was sent to Adelaide and returned to winning form in the Darley Handicap (2014m) at Morphettville on February 1 and recorded another comfortable victory in the Ranvet Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on February 21.
Signoff stepped up to 2400 metres for the first time in the Stayers Final (2400m) at Bendigo on March 15 and stamped himself as a horse to watch with a dominant five lengths victory before leading all the way in the Medownick Laser Clinic Handicap.
Although he may not follow a Cups path during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, Signoff is currently available at odds of $21 in the 2014 Caulfield Cup betting market with Ladbrokes Australia, while he is available at 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $34
