Monday call for Order
IRISH star Order Of St George has been given topweight of 58kg for November’s Melbourne Cup, leaving trainer Aidan O’Brien and owner Lloyd Williams to ponder taking up the challenge to win Australia’s greatest handicap.
O’Brien and Williams will decide on Monday whether Order Of St George travels to Australia or remains in Europe for another tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said yesterday it was the third time Order Of St George had been entered for the Cup.
“I will be disappointed if his connections don’t take up the challenge of competing in the world’s best 3200m race at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November,” Carpenter said.
Betting on the two major spring cups is likely to be impacted significantly by O’Brien and Williams’s decision on Order Of St George’s future.
Since being allocated joint topweight of 58kg last year, Order Of St George has scored a gaping nine-length second Irish St Leger win, ran second in the Ascot Gold Cup and third in a Prix de l’Arc Triomphe.
Only two horses in the past 32 years have shouldered 58kg or more.
Makybe Diva lumped a record, for a mare, 58kg in 2005 — her third successive triumph in the race. Think Big carried 58.5kg in 1975.
Carpenter addressed the issue of Caulfield Cup penalty, by revealing horses already weighted at 56kg will not be rehandicapped for the Melbourne Cup.
There is still the capacity for rehandicapping a “progressive Caulfield Cup winner” but only to a maximum of 56kg for Flemington.
Almandin, last year’s winner with 52kg, has risen to 56.5kg this year as Williams chases a record sixth cup.
Godolphin star Hartnell is second in the Melbourne Cup handicaps behind Order Of St George with 57.5kg. Almandin (56.5), Admire Deus and Humidor (56kg) and Albert (55.5) are next.
Hartnell heads the Caulfield Cup weights with 58kg, with Almandin (56.5kg), Admire Deus, Humidor (56kg), Gailo Chop and Sense Of Occasion (55.5kg) next.
With Admire Deus now being trained by Darren Weir, Albert, a two-time winner of the G2 Nippon Sho over 3600m, is the sole Japanese representative in the Melbourne Cup nominations.