Whispering Brook the pick of Darren Weir’s fab four in Group 2 sprint

DARREN Weir will gang-tackle the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night with four well-credentialed starters, but the trainer believes Whispering Brook’s fitness edge will give her an advantage.

“She’s fit and raring to go,” Weir said. “The other three are all kicking off their campaigns and she’s got a fitness edge over them.”

The other horses are spring Group 1 winners Brave Smash and Land Of Plenty and rising star Fifty Stars, who are all resuming.

Whispering Brook, who won the Standish Handicap on January 1 at her last start, is $3.80 favourite with TAB fixed odds ahead of Land Of Plenty ($4.60) and Brave Smash ($6), while Fifty Stars is $17.

The latter trio will run in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 9 and the Futurity Stakes on February 23 and have also been entered in the All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 16.

On Wednesday, Toorak Handicap winner Land Of Plenty was 12th in the voting with 1030 votes, Manikato victor Brave Smash was 31st (374 votes) and Fifty Stars was 64th (66 votes).

Weir said Land Of Plenty was being set for the $5m race, while a decision on whether the other pair depended on their form.

He said he was “very happy” with Land Of Plenty’s progress, but Brave Smash would need the run and Fifty Stars would need further, despite having come back to work in great shape.