Ipswich Cup winner Tradesman has been given the top weight for Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Lazy Yak Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben.

The Darren Weir (above) trained Tradesman is the top weight for the 2018 Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer Darren Weir has initially indicated that Tradesman would head to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday week for the Listed Scott McMahon Electrical Caloundra Cup (2400m) after scoring a narrow but tough win in last Saturday’s Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich.

Tradesman heads the twelve nominations for the Tattersall’s Cup with 59kg while the Kiwi stayer Megablast has been allocated 1kg less than Tradesman with 58kg.

Weir was happy to get the win in the Ipswich Cup but wasn’t impressed with the gelding being caught three wide for the entire trip after Dean Yendall was able to slot Tradesman in amongst the field from barrier five.

“The horse ran terrific,” Weir said from his viewing spot at The Valley.

“To my eyes it didn’t look a very good ride. If you rate it out of 10 it was a one and you get one for just turning up.”

“He’ll go to the Caloundra Cup now in a fortnight’s time and I think the bigger track there will suit him.”

At his previous start Tradesman finished a handy second to Egg Tart in the Group 2 $200,000 Bradford Access Insulation P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at the Sunshine Coast on June 2 with Megablast filling third position.

Megablast has proven in the past to be a versatile galloper and as well as running fourth in the 2017 Group 1 NZ$500,000 Auckland Cup over 3200, was able to win over 1600m with his victory in the 2018 Group 2 NZ$100,000 Easter Handicap at Pukekoe in April.

The Tony Pike trained Sacred Master is another tough Kiwi stayer nominated for the Tattersall’s Cup but the six year old has been out of form of late and is coming off a last start fourteenth in the Listed $100,000 The Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Doomben on June 9.

Nominations for the 2018 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m)