Darren Weir banking on Japanese speedster reaching great heights

[Nergal]

 

DARREN Weir hopes Japanese sprinter Cassius proves a wildcard and grabs one of the two remaining slots in The Everest.

Weir is over the moon about the prospects of Cassius, who makes his Australian debut in the Group 3 The Heath (1100m) Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

“He’s a beauty. I couldn’t be happier with him,” Weir said.

Cassius galloped in between races at Ballarat eight days ago and trialled at Warrnambool on Friday. The trainer was thrilled with what he saw.

“On both occasions he did really well. He’d never seen a heavy track and he handled it really well,” Weir said.

“He’ll run next Saturday and then have another couple of runs and hopefully he’ll put his hand up for The Everest.”

Weir said Cassius would be fit enough to acquit himself well on Saturday.

“He’ll be ready to run a big race but not fully wound up, like Iconoclasm at Moonee Valley on Saturday,” he said.

Cassius is one of five Japanese horses, syndicated by Melbourne owner Ozzie Kheir, who will run at the spring carnival.

The four-year-old stallion has had eight starts for two wins, two seconds and a third.

He is a Group 3 winner and a Group 2 placegetter.