Werribee Cup winner Tall Ship will miss the Bagot Handicap and instead have a break with the spring in mind.
The Darren Weir-trained Tall Ship is the reigning Country Racing Victoria Horse of the Year after wins last season in the Stawell, Terang and Warrnambool Cups.
His latest campaign included a second in the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) last month before a dominant 2-1/2 length win in the Listed Werribee Cup this month when he carried 60kg.
OTI Racing, which races the stayer, announced on its website it had decided to give the five-year-old a break.
“After discussions with Darren Weir, it has been decided that Tall Ship will have a break now and miss the Listed Bagot Handicap on New Year’s Day in the interests of having Tall Ship peaking for the 2016 spring.
“Plans going forward for this horse will be to perhaps have one run in the autumn, in a race yet to be determined, before again spelling in readiness for a full spring racing carnival that will centre around attempting to gain a start in the 3200m Group 1 Melbourne Cup.”
