STEEL PRINCE ON VERGE OF CUP NOD
GEELONG Cup winner Steel Prince has all but secured a place in this year’s Melbourne Cup field.
Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter penalised the Anthony and Sam Freedman stayer 1kg for his tough win in Wednesday’s Group 3,
It takes his weight in the
Melbourne Cup to 53.5kg, the same weight as King Of Leogrance, and moves the gelding from 35th to 25th in the order of entry.
Carpenter applied the same penalty to Prince Of Arran’s 2019 Geelong Cup success and that horse finished second on protest in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
“This year was an extremely strong renewal of the Geelong Cup with four European stayers — all Group or Listed race winners — making their
Australian debut and this year’s
Group 2 Adelaide Cup winner King Of Leogrance also contesting the race,” he said on Thursday.
“When we took into account the outstanding quality of yesterday’s field, we felt that 1kg was the appropriate penalty for Steel Prince.
“While the margin of victory was narrow, Steel Prince won with some authority.
“Geelong Cup winners in the last decade have an outstanding record in the Melbourne Cup with Americain and Dunaden going on to win the Flemington feature with 54.5kg after being penalised for the Geelong win.
“Last year Prince Of Arran was also penalised 1kg, to 54kg.”
Steel Prince sits one place outside the Melbourne Cup field but given there is likely to be a level of attrition, it is expected he will score a spot even though other horses can yet move above him in the order of entry.