Williams weighs in on Order Of St George call
CONCERNS over track conditions and travel stress will be among Aidan O’Brien’s considerations as he mulls a Flemington raid with Order Of St George after the Irish star was given top weight for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Reacting to Greg Carpenter’s decision to hand dual Irish St Leger winner Order Of St George 58kg for the Cup, record-breaking owner Lloyd Williams said the “weight is very fair.”
Industry experts believe O’Brien’s flag-bearer is relatively well treated as 2016 winner Almandin – also raced by Williams – rose 4.5kg on last season’s winning weight to 56.5kg. Hartnell, a distant third in last year’s Cup, has 57.5kg.
The Godolphin stayer has top weight for the Caulfield Cup with 58kg.
Williams, owner of an unmatched five Cup winners, said Carpenter was “outstanding in his assessment of the race” but warned the “tracks problem here.”
“He needs good to Williams said.
“Obviously I would love to run him. The Melbourne Cup to me is everything that racing stands for in Australia – our only international event.
“But Aidan needs to select (are) soft,” a best chance (based on) tracks and travel. The Arc (is) one hour away (with the) chance of rain. The Cup is 30+ hours.”
The Prix de l’Arc Triomphe at Chantilly next month is a tempting option for O’Brien and Williams after Order Of St George’s third in Europe’s premier race last season.