Distance gives Boom room

RUNNING out a strong 3200m should not be an issue for Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time, who has copped a 1kg penalty for the $6 million Melbourne Cup.

Last Saturday’s win guaranteed Boom Time a start on the first Tuesday in November and the sixyear-old will now carry 53kg in the classic.

Trainer David Hayes said Boom Time, who has had a history of tendon issues, came through the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup well but would be monitored closely before stepping up to the two miles of the Melbourne Cup.

But Hayes has no issues with the son of Flying Spur handling the extra distance.

“If you just watch the last 400m [of the Caulfield Cup], which is always a great guide, I thought he was the strongest,” he told RSN.

“Maybe Marmelo ran a better last furlong. But we’d hope he’s going to be there for a long time and give a kick with no weight.”

The 1kg penalty is the same given to previous Caulfield Cup winners, including Viewed (2009), Dunaden (2012) and Mongolian Khan (2015).

“The 1kg penalty represents two lengths over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m,” Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said.

“The Melbourne Cup provides a new challenge with a litany of possible rivals who did not run in the Caulfield Cup awaiting Boom Time at Flemington, such as defending champion Almandin, European challengers Tiberian, Red Cardinal, Rekindling, Max Dynamite . . . and local stayers including Big Duke and Who Shot Thebarman.”

Hayes said Boom Time’s more fancied stablemate Ventura Storm pulled up with a possible hoof abscess after his unplaced Caulfield Cup run.