Steelon edgeof field after penalty

STEEL Prince’s bid to fight his way into the Melbourne Cup looks to be bearing fruit with the stayer receiving a weight penalty to move him to the brink of a start.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter, pictured, has penalised the Anthony and Sam Freedman stayer 1kg for his tough win in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup.

It takes his weight in the Melbourne Cup to 53.5kg, the same as King of Leogrance, and moves the gelding from 35th to 25th position in the order of entry.

Steel Prince sits one place outside the Melbourne Cup field but given there is likely to be a level of attrition, it is likely he will score a place even though other horses can yet move above him in the order of entry.

There are two Melbourne Cup ballot exemption races remaining— Saturday’ s Cox Plate and the Lexus

Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on October 31.

If Steel Prince secures a run, it will be consecutive Melbourne Cup appearances.

He finished ninth to Vow And Declare last year after an interrupted preparation.

Carpenter applied the same penalty he applied to Prince Of Arr an’ s 2019 Gee long Cup success and that horse finished second 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 Leo grance also contesting the race ,” he said.

TAB has shortened Steel Prince to a $21 chance to win the Melbourne Cup.