Ararat held a monster set of jumpouts on Thursday of last week, with coming winners littered throughout the morning’s heats. 
Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin gave his six-year-old gelding Rich Champagne a second jumpout for the preparation, training on from a soft hitout at Donald with an impressive win from the 1000-metre start. 
Last year’s Murtoa Cup winner will be first up in the Gunbower Cup on Saturday, and if last preparation’s fresh effort at Sandown is any guide, he’ll be awfully hard to toss when he heads up the Murray Valley Highway. 
Bobbin’s new acquisition Accuser was another who caught the eye at Ararat, winning his second jumpout in a row in the quickest time for the 850-metre heats. Flagged as a barrier rogue and purchased online as a project piece, the gelded son of Maurice could pay immediate dividends when he makes his debut at Hamilton on Saturday week.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy snuck in some nice performances towards the back end of the morning, notably their filly Valentina Girl, who won her heat in very easy fashion. 
The three-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution showed ability in a pair of jumpouts last preparation before an extended break in the paddock and appears to have returned in super order for the team. 
In the same jumpout they unveiled their Frankel gelding Franked Up who was never asked for an effort in finishing third behind his stablemate. Both bear watching in subsequent trials and when they make their debuts.
Spring starts with a bang
Spring in the Wimmera officially arrives this Saturday when Murtoa hosts a bumper cup meeting, highlighted by two rich feature events. 
The first heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series will take place over 1600 metres, with the first two placegetters gaining automatic entry to the $500,000 final at Flemington on VRC Oaks day. 
Saturday’s heat boasts $80,000 in prizemoney. Last year’s winner, Meh Keffi for trainer Lloyd Kennewell, faded to finish down the track in the final. 
The 2050-metre Murtoa Cup shapes as a competitive event, with the Archie Alexander-trained Prince Eric set to relish Saturday’s rise in distance. 
The European import was a deserved Caulfield winner three back over 2000 metres before dropping back to 1600 metres for the Gold Nugget at Ballarat last start, finishing fifth and strong through the line behind Ten Commandments. 
A predicted soft track will be in his favour and he’s sure to be around the mark in a race worth $74,000 to the winner for VOBIS-qualified horses.