McNeil the right order
Weight issue rules out oliver
JYE McNeil has snared the prized mount on Caulfield Cup equal favourite Orderofthegarter, as Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter ponders a weight penalty for Lloyd Williams’ import.
Orderofthegarter earned ballot exemption from the October 17 Caulfield Cup with a dominant win in the MRC Foundation Cup last Saturday, soaring to the top tier of pre-post betting alongside Verry Elleegant.
Williams, who raced 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner, has confirmed McNeil will ride because Damien Oliver cannot make Orderofthegarter’s weight, even if rehandicapped.
When weights were released, Orderofthegarter was allotted 50kg, well below Oliver’s minimum.
Carpenter has penalised three of the past four winners of the MRC Foundation Cup, formerly known as the Naturalism — notably Jameka, who was rehandicapped half a kilo to 52kg before she bolted in with the cup.
Night’s Watch, the 2018 winner, received an extra 1kg
off an original weight of 51kg.
The commanding nature of Orderofthegarter’s victory will be one of Carpenter’s considerations in assessing the lightly raced European.
“Jye McNeil rides (and) if he continues to improve (he’s a) great chance at the weight,” Williams said, adding Aidan O’Brien had “a very good opinion” of the gal
loper. Williams said the son of Galileo was likely to next appear in the Turnbull Stakes or Herbert Power Stakes.
Trainer Danny O’Brien expects Orderofthegarter to continue improving, having had only three starts in two years.
“He’s coming off a twoyear lay-off. Each run he’s just found a little bit, and I think there’s still more to come towards the Caulfield Cup next time,” O’Brien said.
“He came to us very well. He’d obviously had a decent break, but he came to us sound and fit, and we’ve built him up from scratch.
“He’s a lovely horse, a good-looking son of Galileo, very genuine. He tries really hard every time you send him out there. We’re very lucky to be getting these horses (from the Williams family). Worldclass horses, beautifully bred, and it’s all clicking at the moment.”
MRC Foundation Cup placegetters Chapada and Steel Prince are likely to clash in the Bart Cummings (2800m) at Flemington on October 3.