IF DARREN Weir wasn’t yet the most famous son of Berriwillock, he certainly is now.
Yesterday he brought home the Melbourne Cup after four previous attempts.
Weir’s only horse on the day, Prince of Penzance, pulled out from the pack with 200 metres to go to claim the race that stops the nation.
With fixed odds of 100 to one, the six-year-old gelding ran the race of his career charging home win the cup, holding off well-backed favourite Max Dynamite over the closing stages.
The moment arrived 29 years after Weir began his career in the Mallee, when he left school as a 16-year-old to work for Birchip trainer Jack Coffey and later John Castleman of Mildura.
Speaking after the race, Weir said it was simply unbelievable and he was looking forward to celebrating back home.
“They had better open the pub at Berriwillock,” he laughed.
“You have got to pinch yourself a bit, I didn’t want to stand up and go the early crow.
“I thought he was trucking beautifully, got a beautiful run through them and what an absolute thrill, and an absolute credit to the team I have at home.”
Ballarat Jockey Michelle Payne also became the first female to win the prestigious race, capping off a history making day for Victoria’s country racing circles.
Weir said he was extremely grateful for Payne’s performance, as well as the help he got from the Payne family.
“What a beautiful ride, what a great family, they have been terrific to me back in Ballarat and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.
“I keep saying to the owners it is hard enough to get into the race, let alone win it and just enjoy the day and hope like hell we could get into the top 10.”
Payne credited the perfect run to her brother, Steve, for drawing barrier number one in a race which a good jump would prove vital.
Earlier in the day speculation grew over a supposed ‘slow lane’ coming off the final turn. This boggy patch of turf would make a good start and drawing the inside gates all the more important.
“Stevie drawing one was probably the winning key to this. I don’t know which barrier I would’ve picked and he picked barrier one,” she said.
“It’s like a dream come true, this horse is awesome, what he’s been through.
“Darren Weir, what an unbelievable trainer to get him here like this today. All of his staff… this is awesome because they got this horse here in the best shape he could be in.
“When I won on this horse as a three-year-old, he won here and I just thought, ‘this is a Melbourne Cup horse’.”
