Darren Weir investigation highlights racing's struggle to keep the faith of a public weary of scandal

When Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to ride a Melbourne Cup winner, the spotlight also shone brightly on Prince of Penzance's already phenomenally successful trainer Darren Weir.

As much as we celebrated Weir's immense success, we wrote endearingly about his background as a bush trainer with a few raps on his sheet at fly-blown Victorian tracks such as Manangatang and Murtoa.

With his well-worn face, world-weary smile and dry-as-dust humour, Weir was cast as a kind of racing Ned Kelly who had led the stewards a merry dance as he tried to stay one race meeting ahead.

Fast-forward and Weir has been cast quite literally in Ride Like a Girl, a movie based on the Melbourne Cup heroics of Payne to be released to coincide with the next Spring Carnival.

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Article written by: Richard Hinds