WEATHER WATCH AT BALLARAT TODAY

Five runners for us today at Ballarat including three in the feature Ballarat Cup at Listed level.

Bankers Choice, Tokorangi and Bermadez run in the $500,000 contest over 2000m with John Allen aboard Bankers Choice from barrier one.

The weather forecast has heavy rain arriving at some point during the day which Mike Moroney says will make a difference to some of our horses.

“Bankers Choice has got form in all sorts of ground, I’m a believer he’s best on soft even though he has won on heavy but we are the same as everyone else and will just have to wait and see what happens with the weather,” Mike said.

“He’s really well but will need a bit of luck from the inside draw and that’s the one niggle.

“I think with ordinary luck in running he’s a great winning chance and is the horse they all have to beat.”

Daniel Moor is aboard Tokorangi who will jump from barrier 11.

“From the draw it possibly looks like she will need to go back as she does not usually show good gate speed but we’ll leave that up to Daniel.” Mike said.

“She is probably one we don’t want the track to deteriorate for.

“She’s fit and well and working up to a win, a repeat of her last start where she made up a lot of ground in the Matriarch behind Atishu must give her a good lightweight chance.”

Craig Newitt will ride Bermadez from barrier eight.

“It’s a bit of an awkward draw and I’d prefer to ride him a bit quiet at his first attempt at the trip,” Mike said.

“The rain will change things for him, if it ended up soft it will not be an issue but any worse than that he is untried as well as stepping up in distance.”

Last start Flemington winner Snapper (pictured) is our other runner in the $150,000 Tonks Plate over 1200 metres and one horse Mike is not wanting any rain for.

“I can’t fault him, he’s improved since Flemington and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Mike said.

“All his form is on good ground and there are other races coming up for him so I will be keeping an eye on the weather and if it did deteriorate then I will have to make a decision.

“The horse is flying and if the track stays in the good range he’ll be hard to beat but it is weather dependant for him today.”

The Duke Of Dubai has gained a start in the fifth race and Mike is confident he will run well.

"He's be in a while but he's holding his condition well," Mike said. "He's up in class today so it will be a good test for him. He's drawn nicely and while this is a strong benchmark race I'm confident he will run well."