Cup plan set in Stone
OWNERS of Tasmanian horse Settler’s Stone are planning a raid on Australia’s biggest race, the Melbourne Cup.
The five-year-old ran an eye-catching seventh of 14 at Caulfield two weeks ago at his first start this preparation.
Settler’s Stone, trained by Longford’s Troy Blacker, is set to race at Caulfield on Saturday over 1400m and then at Flemington over 1700m two weeks later, on September 16.
His first mission is the Bart Cummings over 2500m on October 7 at Flemington and if he wins that he gains ballot free entry into the Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, Racing Victoria’s Greg Carpenter has thrown down the gauntlet to Lloyd Williams, declaring he will be bitterly disappointed if Order Of St George doesn’t contest November’s Melbourne Cup.
The most successful Melbourne Cup owner in history with five triumphs in the race, Williams has warned Order Of St George will bypass the $6 million handicap if he receives too much weight.
Carpenter, who will release the weights on September 12, says the Ascot Gold Cup and Irish St Leger winner would be “up near the top of the weights”.
The brinkmanship between leviathan owner and handicapping expert continued to play out as another powerful contingent of overseas contenders — including Order Of St George — head the entries for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups.
“I’ll be bitterly disappointed if, having nominated for the third time, that Order Of St George doesn’t travel to Melbourne this year to run in what is the greatest staying race over 3200m in the world,” Carpenter said after 140 horses were nominated for Flemington.
“No doubt [trainer] Aidan [O’Brien] will be running Order Of St George in the Irish St Leger a couple of days before the weights come out.
“And I would be very disappointed, as I said, if Order Of St George doesn’t travel.”
Carpenter allotted the galloper — third in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — 58kg last year and 54.5kg in 2016.
He warned the Irish star would again be near the top of the handicaps.
“There’s no doubt a horse with his record that he’s going to be up near the top of the [Cup] weights,” Carpenter said.
Order Of St George is among a potent international contingent from seven countries among entries for the Australia’s two most prestigious staying handicaps.
While Darren Weir has 17 Melbourne Cup and 20 Caulfield Cup nominations, Australia’s leading trainer could face rivals from Japan, France, Germany, England, Ireland and Scotland. A total of 33 northern hemisphere horses from 20 stables have been entered across the two features with 31 in the Melbourne Cup and 22 in the Caulfield Cup.