Hayes and Dabernig lead spring premiership

The Spring Premierships trainers' category will go down to the wire with David Hayes and Tom Dabernig holding the slightest lead over Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir.

The Hayes and Dabernig training partnership has accumulated 74 points over the first 11 of 12 feature meetings during the spring carnival in Victoria.

Weir is on 73-1/2 while Chris Waller is third on 57 with the Zipping Classic meeting on Saturday the last chance to earn points.

Points are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis with double points for Group One races and the Zipping Classic.

The winner of the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup however receives 12 points, with four for second place and two for third.

The highest scoring trainer and jockey will win $25,000 and receive a further $25,000 for their nominated charity.

James McDonald is well clear with a 14-1/2 point lead over Craig Williams and 18-1/2 ahead of Hugh Bowman in the jockeys' standings with both Williams and Bowman missing Saturday through suspension.,

Both the leading stables will be well-represented at Sandown, with acceptances for the meeting taken on Wednesday.