Darren Weir claimed the record for most Melbourne metro winners by a trainer in a season, whenCamdus flew late to win the WT Partnership Handicap (1200m).
Just moments after he was overtaken in the ‘Group 1 stakes’ by Chris Waller when Egg Tart won the Queensland Oaks, Weir claimed his 116th Melbourne city winner of the 2016-17 season – surpassing Lee Freedman’s 115 set in 2005-06.
Weir then made it a race-to-race double when Gallic Chieftain claimed honours in the Essendon Nissan Handicap (2040m), to make it 117 for the season.
Camdus paid $3.50 on the Victorian tote, but if you could set a market on who Weir would thank first, his team would have been $1.01.
“It’s great. A big thank you to all the crew at home, they do all the work, I’m just the person who’s got their name behind the stable,” Weir said post-race.
“I couldn’t do it without the help of all them. It’s a big thrill to get as many winners as we have.”
Only moments earlier, though, Waller moved 9-8 up on Weir in terms of Group 1 winners the two power stables have had this season, when Egg Tart claimed the Oaks at Doomben.
Weir’s charge Kenedna was brave in finishing fourth, and Weir’s early reflection was that his number one hoop John Allen might have done things differently if given a second crack.
“I’m sure Johnny will be kicking himself on the corner, he was on the winner’s back and probably should’ve stayed there,” Weir lamented.
“But they’ve got to make a split-[second] decision. He gets it right more than he gets it wrong.
“So she ran brave, and has earned a spell and she’ll be back for the spring.”
It is that competitive nature that has taken Weir to where he is. And he has broken the record with 16 metro meetings to spare.