Sooboog has been tough to catch, but clearly has more talent than two wins from 12 starts suggests - and Weir is backing in the former Hawkes Racing galloper to pull out his best in the Ladbrokes Cash In Handicap (1300m) at Sandown.

Outside factors have played their part, but Sooboog's past seven starts have followed a yo-yo pattern - with runner-up results in the Listed Moomba Plate and Group 2 Euclase Stakes interwoven with midfield finishes, most recently in the Group 1 Goodwood.

Weir did chuckle when putting his weight behind Sooboog as his best - acknowledging he hasn't been a punter-friendly horse - but he did turn the Snitzel colt's form around in his first start for the stable with a flashing-lights run in the Euclase.

"He's definitely my best chance tomorrow, for sure," Weir told Racing.com's Racing Ahead on RSN 927.

"He's drawn a little awkward [in barrier 12], but we'll know how the track's racing by then.

"He definitely should've finished closer in The Goodwood, for sure. He just didn't have much luck.

"He hasn't gone backwards, he's in the same order so hopefully that's good enough.

"I'm a bit keen to ride him pretty quiet anyway, so I think he'll be hitting the line well."

Sooboog is a $4.40 chance with CrownBet.

Australian Guineas winner Palentino is set to step up his preparations for this year’s Spring Carnival.

Trainer Darren Weir said the son of Teofilo, who has won three of his seven starts and was last seen finishing runner-up in the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley in March, will commence galloping at his Warrnambool stable this week.

Yet to determine a target for the rising four-year-old, Weir said there were plenty of options for the colt who is currently rated a $21 chance in CrownBet’s Cox Plate market.

“We could kick him off in the Regal Roller (1200m) at Caulfield in August and then go to the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the Makybe Diva (1600m),” Weir said.

“Or we could kick off in the P.B. Lawrence (1400m) and go to the Memsie and the Makybe or we could wait for races like the Rupert Clarke (1400m) and the Toorak Handicap (1600m).

“It will just depend on where he’s at in his preparation.”

Weir, who has currently trained 316 winners this season and is in hot pursuit of the Commonwealth record 334 winners set by John Hawkes in 2002/03, said Palentino would be joined at Warrnmabool this week by fellow stable stars Signoff and Tosen Stardom as they also ramp up their spring preparations.

After missing last year’s spring carnival through injury, Weir said the race that stops the nation was the main target for 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup fourth placegetter Signoff.

“Signoff’s good and his main goal is hopefully the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“He’ll probably follow a similar path to what Prince Of Penzance did last year.

“Tosen Stardom will probably kick off in the Makybe Diva.”

Weir said Lucky Hussler was also back in work but was yet to determine a target for last year’s Toorak Handicap winner.

He said Magic Millions 3YO Classic winner Mahuta was the most forward of his leading spring contenders.

“Mahuta had a good solid gallop at Burrumbeet on Thursday,” Weir said.

“He’s the most forward and he’ll probably head towards the Regal Roller and the Memsie.”