Tumut trainer Kerry Weir continued his hot run of form by taking out the Eacom Griffith Cup (1350m) on Saturday.
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Weir added to his lead in the Southern District premiership when Sand Dune swamped his rivals late to take out the rain delayed feature.
In a blistering move, Sand Dune ($7) charged from near the back of the field to run past his rivals.
Dominating in the straight, the eight-year-old went on to defeat Black Fusion ($4.80) by 3.5 lengths.
Sand Dune is a horse that races best when coming from the rear of the field and Weir was concerned the race and condition of the track wouldn’t suit his usual racing pattern.
However he couldn’t have been happier with the effort.
“They went pretty hard it in, he was back second last but when Megan pulled him to the outside at about the 400 he stormed down the outside and won it going away,” Weir said.
“It was pretty impressive actually.”
Weir thought the eight-year-old not only appreciated the drop in grade to his most recent efforts, but also the rise in distance.
In an attempt to gain a start in the $80,000 Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai, Weir tried to keep racing the son of Thorn Park over 1200 metres, but found it wasn’t as suitable.
“We tried to get him into the Snake Gully Cup so we kept him over the 1200-metre races, but the mile is his go,” Weir said.
“We will get him up to the mile now.”
Weir now set his sights on another rain delayed feature, the Cootamundra Cup next week.
The victory in the cup was one of two wins for apprentice jockey Megan Taylor.
Like her master in the trainers premierships, Taylor is also in front in the jockeys premiership.
She also enjoyed success with Lachlan Leanna for Jerilderie trainer Phil Sweeney.
Weir has been impressed with her efforts in the saddle.
“She is flying too,” he said.
“She is getting winners left, right and centre.”
Weir and Taylor are out to continue their purple patch of form with Zorba at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Monday.
The five-year-old resumed with a win at Tumut two starts ago before finishing last over the Snake Gully Carnival.
Weir believes the Sportsbar Plus Class 3 Handicap (1600m) will be another test, but wasn’t too disappointed with his last race.
“He will be an each-way chance,” he said.
“It wasn’t a bad run at Gundagai.
“He won at Tumut first up then dropped back 200 metres in distance for Gundagai, back to 1200 which wasn’t ideal, but up to a mile will suit him.
“He is up in class but will get his chance in there.”