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Horses travelling around Australia.

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marscay View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 Jan 2019 at 4:44pm
It only looks bad on Weir if you don't understand the situation.

Crooked gambler is spot on.....rooted.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote crooked_gambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2019 at 4:10pm
Originally posted by Batman Batman wrote:

Originally posted by crooked_gambler crooked_gambler wrote:

Yes Yes Yes arrived in QLD yesterday
Walked off the float lame so won’t be running

What a surprise. Maybe Weir should plan better


How can you plan better? Did you read the scenario above?
We need a more reliable airline service.
The system is rooted
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Batman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2019 at 2:29pm
Originally posted by crooked_gambler crooked_gambler wrote:

Yes Yes Yes arrived in QLD yesterday
Walked off the float lame so won’t be running

What a surprise. Maybe Weir should plan better
Gambling has brought our family closer together. We had to move to a smaller house.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote crooked_gambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2019 at 11:08am
Yes Yes Yes arrived in QLD yesterday
Walked off the float lame so won’t be running
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shawy38 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2019 at 1:44pm
Companies like Australia Post have contractual agreements for a significant amount of cargo that includes 'next-day guarantee' obligations, so commercially it makes a lot more sense for Qantas to look after these businesses because they are provide far more value than flying a horses for only a select few weeks of the year.

Horses are big and heavy, with some weighing in above 550kg, and they take up a considerable amount of cargo space on a flight. They need a large area for their body, and their head sticks out of the box. The space required is considerable.

Further complicating these issues can be weather and maintenance. If there is any disruption to cargo services, horses are usually the first kicked off the flight given the difficulties they can create.

Nobody is more frustrated by this more than Calthorpe.

"It's bad for business. For everyone," Calthorpe said. "Where we sit at the moment, we've booked spots on every flight this week. Yet, I've got no idea what's going on and how it'll happen. It's out of my control."

Making matters worse is a Department of Trade regulation that prevents Calthorpe from seeking a viable international airline to carry out the task. With TNT and Virgin not accepting the cargo, Calthorpe and Weir are left to go to the Australian-owned Qantas, despite the unreliable nature of the business.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shawy38 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2019 at 1:42pm
From previous page:

BUMP


Weir hires the services of Air Horse Australia and Chris Calthorpe to manage his equine travel arrangements. However, the problem runs deeper than one may first think.

Calthorpe handles the flying arrangements for many trainers, including those going to Perth and New Zealand. Usually, it goes without a hitch, but crowded freight flights are making it difficult.

Qantas freight flights depart Tullamarine airport at 1:20am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

Calthorpe has made arrangements to have Weir's eight travelling horses booked on those flights. However, these horses are only on standby and there is nothing more that Calthorpe or Weir can do to confirm the spots.

Qantas will agree to tentatively book up to three horses on each flight. All of Weir's eight horses are therefore able to be put on standby but that does not guarantee they will actually travel.

Due to contractual agreements with freight operators, including Star Track Express and Australia Post, Qantas cannot lock in spots on these flights so because the equine freight is on standby, it can be as late as 10pm - just hours before - that horses will be bumped off the flight.

Horses will often have left Warrnambool and even arrived at Tullamarine before their travel arrangements have to be changed.

Weir and his fellow trainers do not consider Qantas' competitors TNT and Virgin because they are unable to confirm places for horses ahead of their flights and do not entertain the idea of putting them on standby.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shawy38 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2019 at 1:39pm
They get bumped from planes because of freight - mainly Australia Post.

Out of control of the trainers, it all depends on how much mail has to get on the plane, and that takes precedence over a horse unfortunately
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Batman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2019 at 1:28pm
Gee these trainers are really planning ahead for a $10 million race day.
Who is making these arrangements? Last year Weir had one scratched after flying to Brisbane for a big race, because the stable hand was asleep and missed the horse float to the race with the horse. Or some similar stuff up.

I would hate to see them trying to run a company in the business world.
Gambling has brought our family closer together. We had to move to a smaller house.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pnclick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 6:12pm
An interesting stat I noticed going through the past 15 years result, is NO horse has had there last run in Victoria, and only Augusta Proud had won its previous race in SA, and that was the year the race was run in March, so more time... All winners tend to have travelled early to QLD, and the last start win strike rate is pretty big, very few have jockey switches. YES YES YES doesn't profile well as a normal Magic Millions winner..... watch him win nowTongue
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pnclick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 6:03pm
And cops a woeful barrier to boot. Tough to win from there.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gay3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 3:05pm
There are so many owners involved I reckon they'd have had the final say.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Carioca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 2:31pm
Changed his mind Shawy ? too much money to pass up.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Shawy38 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 2:17pm
Darren Weir has abandoned plans to fly Yes Yes Yes to the Gold Coast with his Magic Millions-bound team already en route to Queensland.

Weir says he and connections had their hands tied after being told there was “less than a 50 per cent chance” of both Yes Yes Yes and Platinum Angel being able to board a flight to the Gold Coast.

Both horses set off late on Monday via float and arrived in Albury ahead of the next leg of their trip to Newcastle on Tuesday night.

“He’s already on his way (along with Platinum Angel), and it was a case of the airlines saying we’d have less than 50 per cent chance of making the flight and that’s how it eventuated,” Weir said on Tuesday afternoon.

“The horses left last night, they are in Albury now and they handled the travel well last night.

“They’ll get to Newcastle and be at the beach there tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, and then we’ll decide whether they travel that night, or wait until the next night, we’ll just see how they are travelling.

“The horses won’t be worried (by the float travel), it’s not what you want but what else do you do (in this situation).”

Adding more inconvenience to the Gold Coast campaign of two-year-old colt Yes Yes Yes was drawing the outside gate (21) at Tuesday’s barrier draw.

Yes Yes Yes drifted in markets post-draw for the $2million 2YO Classic, for which he was the favourite at one stage, and Weir agrees that it makes the task more difficult for the son of Rubick.

“(Barrier 21) makes it a lot harder, I think everyone wants their horse to draw in the inside half and we were hoping to do that

“It just makes the assignment a lot harder, but the horse is in good shape.”
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Shawy38 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 1:04pm
Travel disruptions have left trainer John Sadler doubting the chances of his last start winner Usain Bowler in Saturday’s $1m Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.

The son of So You Think is the $4.60 favourite in most markets for the 1400m event, but without a flight available from Victoria to Queensland because of horses getting bumped for freight, the four year-old has had to be floated up, a plan Sadler said is certainly less than ideal.

“It’s really unfortunate, not the perfect scenario at all,” the Caulfield trainer said on Monday night.

“If I had known that a flight wouldn’t be available I would have floated him up a week earlier.

“He’s travelled up well though to Sydney arriving at 5am this morning and will stay there for tonight and tomorrow before making the trip up to Queensland overnight.

“It’s going to be hard for him now, how can you go in confidently with these kind of circumstances,” he said.

Usain Bowler rocketed into favouritism for the Magic Millions Cup following his eye-catching last start victory at Flemington.

But Sadler is sceptical on whether he should be so well-favoured mostly on the back of one performance.

“If he hadn’t run so well that day he’d be a 50/1 chance going into Saturday, I don’t know if I’d be having him as favourite,” he said.

But the Caulfield trainer isn’t concerned about the four year-old having to race right-handed for the first time.

“I never read too much into that at all,” he said.

“When I used to train in Dubai the horses would have to interchange running both ways all the time and we just never really thought about it as a concern.”

Darren Weir has also been plagued by freight concerns this week confirming that Yes Yes Yes and Platinum Angel won’t travel by float to the Gold Coast and will only run on Saturday if they can board a flight later this week.

Yes Yes Yes is the equal favourite in most markets for Saturday’s $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Magnolian Khan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2017 at 3:25pm
Volatile Mix rounded out his Queensland Derby preparations by finishing fourth in a barrier trial at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday morning.

The Darren Weir-trained favourite was given an easy time by John Allen, who made the trip north to also partner Stradbroke-bound Ulmann in a later heat.

The 1270m trial was run at a strong tempo, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sort After powering to a big lead but Allen never asked Volatile Mix to extend, finishing nine lengths behind eventual winner Trois Choix.

Volatile Mix is a $4.60 favourite for the Derby ahead of Order Again, who narrowly defeated the South Australian Derby winner last start in the Grand Prix Stakes.

Weir is also set to be represented by Mongolian Wolf in the Derby and the Frank Packer Plate winner was given a gallop at Coleraine on Tuesday morning ahead of travelling to Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Ulmann sat off the pace in his barrier trial and was allowed to work through his gears in the concluding stages by Allen to finish second in his 850m heat.

Clearly Innocent remains a clear favourite for the Stradbroke at $4, with Ulmann considered a $9 chance with CrownBet.

The final field and barrier draw for the Stradbroke Handicap will be announced at 10am on Wednesday.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tillyras Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 2017 at 2:07pm
Connections of Victorian gallopers High Church and Rageese will have to wait another 24 hours for a flight to Brisbane after security restrictions prevented them flying north on Wednesday night.

Flights were grounded at Melbourne Airport after an attempted hijacking forced a Malaysia Airlines flight bound for Kuala Lumpur to return to Melbourne shortly before midnight, temporarily shutting down both runways and causing chaos for both inbound and outbound flights.

The Darren Weir-trained pair had arrived at Tullamarine but were forced to return to their Ballarat stables. They will again attempt to travel to Brisbane on Thursday night.

Rageese will contest the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) en route to next week's Stradbroke Handicap while Warrnambool Cup winner High Church is down to tackle the Group 2 P.J. O'Shea Stakes (2200m).

==========
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tillyras Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 2017 at 10:45am
Rageese and High Church still waiting
The other two are still up there I think
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gay3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 2017 at 10:39am
Lee Purchase 
7 hrs ·

Sitting here waiting to load our horses for Brisbane... Don't think that'll be happening.. Grrr

Lee Purchase Horses home back in there stables... Fingers crossed we can get them a flight tonight 😁.

Weirs'

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Magnolian Khan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 May 2017 at 9:45am
The @DKWeirRacing pair Snitzepeg and Volatile Mix have arrived in Brisbane this morning for races at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Black Heart Bart, Neverland & Turbo Miss to fly out tonight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3blindmice Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2017 at 7:19pm
Ha ha BB. No feed or vets required.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Baghdad Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2017 at 7:14pm
I knew a bloke who took twenty horses from Melbourne to Far North Queensland carnivals, never won a race and returned to Melbourne with a fortune. How did he do that..see below




















He took twenty of those horse vending machine to all the FNQ country carnivals ( shows) where children paid twenty cents for a two minute ride.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Sir Gov Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2017 at 3:08pm
excellent news
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote Magnolian Khan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2017 at 10:44am
Amelies Star, Kenedna and Ulmann all arrived safely this morning
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Xavier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 3:31pm
Yep that's correct. Qantas need to wait and see how much Mail is on the plane before they can board
Karl and Susan Kennedy are my heroes
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote 3blindmice Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 3:23pm
Three others due to go tonight according to Weir foreman in Qld on SSR this morning - AS, Ulmann, Kenedna
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Xavier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2017 at 2:34pm
Trainer Darren Weir has finally managed to fly two of his horses, Articus and Star Exhibit, to Queensland for Saturday's Group 1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m), but intrigue surrounds his third acceptor for the $650,000 race - Amelie's Star.

Weir's Warrnambool foreman Jarrod McLean confirmed each of Star Exhibit (barrier four) and Articus (eight) had arrived safe and sound in Brisbane for their G1 assignment, but no word on Amelie's Star (10) as yet.

Weir told Racing.com he had to make a tough call on Tuesday night, when told only two of his three horses could make the flight, leaving him with the decision to knock Amelie's Star off the plane. But opportunities to get her up there for the race remain in the ensuing nights.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Xavier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2017 at 6:18pm
Darren Weir horses grounded, but why?

George van Veenendaal (@guntervanv)3:20pm O
,(
How does it happen that Australia's most dominant trainer, Darren Weir, can't get his horses to Queensland?

Travelling horses is one of the things the Weir juggernaut is renowned for. From Burrembeet to Adelaide and Warrnambool in-between, Weir seems to be able to win anywhere.

But not in Brisbane over the past two weekends and it appears unlikely it will be the case this weekend either.

Weir hires the services of Air Horse Australia and Chris Calthorpe to manage his equine travel arrangements. However, the problem runs deeper than one may first think.

Calthorpe handles the flying arrangements for many trainers, including those going to Perth and New Zealand. Usually, it goes without a hitch, but crowded freight flights are making it difficult.

Qantas freight flights depart Tullamarine airport at 1:20am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

Calthorpe has made arrangements to have Weir's eight travelling horses booked on those flights. However, these horses are only on standby and there is nothing more that Calthorpe or Weir can do to confirm the spots.

Qantas will agree to tentatively book up to three horses on each flight. All of Weir's eight horses are therefore able to be put on standby but that does not guarantee they will actually travel.

Due to contractual agreements with freight operators, including Star Track Express and Australia Post, Qantas cannot lock in spots on these flights so because the equine freight is on standby, it can be as late as 10pm - just hours before - that horses will be bumped off the flight.

Horses will often have left Warrnambool and even arrived at Tullamarine before their travel arrangements have to be changed.

Weir and his fellow trainers do not consider Qantas' competitors TNT and Virgin because they are unable to confirm places for horses ahead of their flights and do not entertain the idea of putting them on standby.

Companies like Australia Post have contractual agreements for a significant amount of cargo that includes 'next-day guarantee' obligations, so commercially it makes a lot more sense for Qantas to look after these businesses because they are provide far more value than flying a horses for only a select few weeks of the year.

Horses are big and heavy, with some weighing in above 550kg, and they take up a considerable amount of cargo space on a flight. They need a large area for their body, and their head sticks out of the box. The space required is considerable.

Further complicating these issues can be weather and maintenance. If there is any disruption to cargo services, horses are usually the first kicked off the flight given the difficulties they can create.

Nobody is more frustrated by this more than Calthorpe.

"It's bad for business. For everyone," Calthorpe said. "Where we sit at the moment, we've booked spots on every flight this week. Yet, I've got no idea what's going on and how it'll happen. It's out of my control."

Making matters worse is a Department of Trade regulation that prevents Calthorpe from seeking a viable international airline to carry out the task. With TNT and Virgin not accepting the cargo, Calthorpe and Weir are left to go to the Australian-owned Qantas, despite the unreliable nature of the business.

Calthorpe has considered lodging a restriction-of-trade complaint, and while that might help Weir in the long-run, it won't do anything for this Brisbane Carnival.

A week after being unable to get Articus on a flight north, Weir ran into the same issue with Mongolian Wolf and Neverland last weekend, forcing both to run at Caulfield.

Compounding the situation further, the champion trainer floated both Sooboog and El Divino to Brisbane for the Doomben 10,000 but then had to scratch both on race eve after they suffered travel sickness.

All this has promoted Weir to make the call to either fly his runners to Queensland this weekend or keep them in Victoria if unable to secure flights.

Fellow trainer Mick Price ran The Chairman at Doomben last Saturday, finishing second in the Chairman's Handicap, and while he has no qualms about running horses in Queensland, he doesn't fly them up.

"Flying horses, to Queensland in particular is too unreliable," Price said, concerned by the potential for things to go wrong.

"A trip to Queensland is fraught with danger in terms of travel sickness.

"I will allow four days to get to Queensland on road transport. Anything above 8-10 hours in travel and a horse is prone to travel sickness if there's any bugs around.

"They have no opportunity to excrete the mucus they need to. The animal they are, they'll usually be head down and graze for 18 hours a day.

"They can't get their head down in the float, and they get a build-up of mucus in the wind pipe and lung that is normally expelled in the everyday behaviour of the horse."

Price floats his horses first to Warwick Farm, a trip that takes about 10 hours, and then works them there for at least a day.

"We exercise the horse for a day or two, then they get in a float to Brisbane and they've had the trip totally broken up with a good break in-between," he said.

Fellow Victorian Brent Stanley has also had some recent experience travelling horses to Queensland, having last year floated 10 horses to the Sunshine State with no issues.

Like Price, he too likes to break up the journey, stopping at Dubbo along on the way. His horses spend approximately 12 hours there, allowing them to relax and recover, before tackling another 10-hour float the rest of the way north.

As well as his recent issues with Sooboog and El Divino, Weir has also had troubles in the past, including Tosen Stardom and his doomed attempts at racing in Sydney last year.

The situation is a disappointing one for all involved.

Calthorpe is unable to run his business the way he'd like while Weir's attempts to target the top races in Queensland and the riches on offer are hampered.

Owners don't always get to see their horses contest the best races while punters do not get the chance to see Weir around the country and horses become ill on long trips.

Weir and Australian Bloodstock did have the alternative option of running Mongolian Wolf at Caulfield but they would be frustrated to be forced to do so with the stakes getting higher as the Queensland Carnival peaks.

Darren Weir has been the everywhere man in the past few years. However, this weekend he may be well and truly grounded, again.
Karl and Susan Kennedy are my heroes
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Xavier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2017 at 3:43pm
Maybe he can put them on a boat at Warrnambool and travel by ship
Karl and Susan Kennedy are my heroes
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Red Hare Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2017 at 3:27pm
A stable of Weir proportions might consider laying his own railroad and going by train.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote Xavier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2017 at 2:40pm
Weir waiting on flights third week running

Andrew Eddy@fastisheddy11:41am O
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Leading trainer Darren Weir will depend solely on flying his horses to Brisbane for this Saturday's Doomben Cup meeting after two of his best sprinters had their campaigns prematurely terminated through travel sickness.

Weir said on Monday that El Divino and Sooboog - who were both scratched from the Doomben 10,000 when they became ill on Friday after being floated to Queensland - were unlikely to race again this campaign so he would be taking no risk with the long road trip for his team of six scheduled to head to Brisbane this week.

"Sooboog's still a bit crook and the other one (El Divino) is definitely on the improve but I'd be surprised (if he raced this campaign)," Weir said.

"I won't be floating this weekend but I wouldn't change a thing that we did - I mean we did everything right. It was just one of those unfortunate things that happen."

For Sooboog, his illness has meant his racetrack career is almost certainly over as the son of Snitzel is due to stand at Kitchwin Hills Stud in the Hunter Valley from next season.

After claiming his eighth Group 1 of the season when Volatile Mix took the South Australian Derby last Saturday, hopes are high Weir could end this weekend with his wins at the elite level in 2016/17 in double figures.

As well as the favourite Black Heart Bart in The Goodwood in Adelaide, Weir also has plans for three of his horses - Articus, Amelie's Star and Star Exhibit - to tackle Saturday's Doomben Cup over 2000 metres.

"I've got six to go up to Brisbane and hopefully we'll get a few on the flight on Tuesday and then the others can go either Wednesday or Thursday night," he said. "But all we can do it just wait on the flights and see what happens."

Weir is also keen for Volatile Mix to make his way to Queensland for next month's Derby after he unleashed an almighty finish to claim the SA Derby in Adelaide.

"We've always thought he was a nice horse," Weir said of the $16 winner. "We've been really happy with the way he's going.

"If you look at all his runs they've all been great this prep. He's just made a little progression with every start and we're looking for that to continue through to Queensland."

Weir is still to make a decision on whether Mongolian Wolf will make the trip for the Queensland Derby after he ran poorly as the warm favourite at Caulfield on Saturday.

"I want to take him up there but things didn't go well on Saturday. I don't really know what to do now," he lamented.

"On scope at the races they said he had pharyngitis and a bit of mucus but I don't know if that's a good enough excuse or not.

"He might have rode him too close but at the end of the day he didn't go any good."
Karl and Susan Kennedy are my heroes
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