Cup Winner Headlines Ballarat Cup Heats

MELBOURNE Cup winner Whiskey Riot is one of five entries trainer Anthony Azzopardi has in Saturday's Group 2 Ballarat Cup heats.

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Four heats of the $47,000 to-the-winner group 2 feature have been programmed with some tantalizing clashes setting up what promises to be a fantastic night of racing.

The opening heat sees Melbourne Cup runner-up Western Envoy take his place from box one, tackling Bendigo Cup winner Crimson Vixen, the daughter of Barcia Bale returning to the track for the first time since mid-October.

Qualifier two sees Whiskey Riot go about his business from box four in what appears the quietest heat on paper.

The Melbourne Cup hero, a winner at Ballarat in a flying 25.02, takes on well-credentialed galloper Snag's McKenzie, group 3 winners Corbett and Weblec Ace, as well as litter-brother Fernando's Riot in a heat where he'll start in the red.

The third of the heats is an absolute cracker with a handful of winning chances.

Azzopardi's hugely talented Zambora Brockie chaser Seal The Deal has drawn box one, taking on Shepparton Cup winner Peter Galo, Maitland track record holder La Grand Quality, and prolific winning sprinter Cee Jay's Boy.

The final heat will see Topgun winner and Melbourne Cup finalist Get It Gizmo start favourite where he'll likely be chasing Healesville Cup winner Myrniong And All, another Azzopardi cup hopeful.