Five tracks, five runners

Five runners for Ballymore this weekend - at five different tracks!

Kicking off the busy programme is Trendsetter who heads to the Friday night meeting at Cranbourne where he lines up as one of the favoured runners in the De Bortoli Wines Handicap.

A horse who makes his own luck on pace, Trendsetter has drawn nicely in barrier two for James Winks and he has only six rivals to contend with, Michael Moroney noting that "it looks the right race for him."

"The softer ground is to his advantage and he should prove very hard to beat."

Meanwhile Rhythm To Spare (pictured) heads to Flemington on Saturday and we are hoping for a change of luck for the talented gelding who had to work hard in the Sale Cup last time out.

"He had to cart the field up to the leader in a strangely run race at Sale and he was not beaten far," said Moroney.

"The rain helps him and he will appreciate the drop in class."

Damien Oliver rides Rhythm To Spare who jumps from barrier six in the Antler Luggage Handicap.

We also have a runner at Newcastle on Saturday, Golden Patch lining up for his second start after fighting on so well when placed at his Hawkesbury debut late last month.

"He is another who will be aided by a softer track and he is going really well. He is a nice horse who we don't expect to remain a maiden for long."

On Sunday we head to the provincials with the in-form Courageous Rock contesting the feature event at Ararat, the $50,000 Ararat Gold Cup.

To jump from barrier five for Jake Noonan, the imported five-year-old has looked good winning his last two and Moroney is looking forward to seeing how he measures up rising in class.

"It is a tougher race but he has improved, he has been working very well."

And hopefully after a weekend of winners we will be cheering on another at Kilmore on Monday with Arbitrage ready for a rise in distance in the 1912m maiden.

"He strikes a pretty weak field and he is an improving sort who strips very fit."