Lisa Latta will attempt to become the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) when she saddles the defending champion Belardo Boy in the 2024 edition of the time-honoured Riccarton feature on Saturday.

Latta has won the Winter Cup on four previous occasions with Tuscany Warrior (2003), Mikki Street (2006), Platinum Command (2018) and Belardo Boy. According to statistics released by Riccarton Park this week, that makes her the equal most successful in the history of the race alongside fellow Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan, who has won it with Amore Mia (1996), Jolly Rodger (2000), Shamrock Star (2008) and Propel (2010).

Belardo Boy is back on Saturday to defend the Winter Cup crown that he won 12 months ago, but this time his weight has risen sharply from 53kg to 60kg. The only horse to win the Winter Cup under a larger weight was Shifnal Chief with 62.5kg in 1976, while Nashville also carried 60kg to victory in 2017.

Last year’s Winter Cup was the first black-type success for Belardo Boy, who has subsequently added the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m), Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). The Belardo gelding’s Opunake Cup victory at Hawera on July 23 was an impressive weight-carrying performance in its own right, outclassing a talented field by two lengths under 59kg.

“He’s been racing in the best form of his life,” Latta said. “We’ve just tried to space his runs out and keep him for the better races, and he’s been right on song this winter. It’s been great to see.

“He’s come through his Opunake Cup win really well. He galloped very nicely on Tuesday morning, just before he left the stable to head down south.

“The abandoned New Plymouth meaning means it’ll only be 11 days between runs for him, but I don’t see any reason why that shorter turnaround will bother him.

“That big weight would be my only worry. But Joe Doyle knows the horse well and we’ve got him booked for the ride again.”

Doyle has had nine rides on Belardo Boy for five wins, including last season’s Winter Cup, Metric Mile, AGC Training Stakes and Opunake Cup wins.

Belardo Boy was bought for $28,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2020, and he has earned $387,552 from a 37-start career that has produced 10 wins, four seconds and three thirds.

The TAB on Friday rated Belardo Boy a $5.50 favourite to defend his Winter Cup title. Master Marko was the second favourite at $6.50, followed by Justaskme ($8.50), Aljay ($9), Jay Bee Gee ($9) and Freeze Frame ($9.50).