Cup weights declared in Aust
New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Bonneval has been handicapped at 52.5kg for the A$6 million Melbourne Cup.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare began her spring campaign with an impressive victory in the Group II Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Just over 24 hours later, the Makfi mare was named Horse of the Year, Three-Year-Old of the Year and Stayer of the Year for the 2016-17 season at the New Zealand Thoroughbred awards.
Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announced the weights for the 140 runners who are in contention for a start in the 3200m Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 7.
Irish stayer Order Of St George has been handed topweight of 58kg, ahead of Godolphin runner Hartnell (57.5kg) and 2016 Cup winner Almandin (56.5kg).
Almandin carried just 52kg to victory in 2016. Pentathlon, who ran ninth in last year’s Cup for John Wheeler, has been handed 50.5kg.
The Stephen Marsh-trained Chocante, who ran third behind Winx in the Chelmsford Stakes, has been allotted 53kg for the Melbourne Cup. The Brisbane Cup winner will run in Saturday’s Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick.
New Zealand Derby winner Gingernuts has been allotted 55kg, the same as former Kiwi and 2015 Australian Derby winner Tavago. Tavago, who was withdrawn from the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes with a minor cut to a leg, was expected to take his place in Saturday’s Group I Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Bonneval’s stablemate and last season’s Australian Derby winner Jon Snow, who resumed with an eye-catching sixth placing in the Group I Memsie Stakes, has been handed 54.5kg.
He will clash with Tavago, Hartnell and former Kiwi Humidor in the Makybe Diva. Lizzie L’Amour, a stablemate of Bonneval and Jon Snow, has been handed 51.5kg.
She suffered atrial fibrillation in the Dato Tan Chin Nam but the Baker-Forsman team will press on with her spring campaign.
Humidor has been handed 56kg. Formerly trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, Humidor was transferred to the Darren Weir stable following his second placing behind Willie Cazals in the Group I Livamol Classic.
His connections sold 50 per cent of the horse to clients of Weir. Since crossing the Tasman, Humidor has already won over 3200m at Group I level.
He defeated Caulfield Cupwinning mare Jameka in last season’s Australian Cup.
Another former Kiwi in Weir’s stable, Yogi, has been handed 50kg but is last in the order of entry.
Yogi is also nominated for the Group III New Zealand Cup at Riccarton.
Who Shot Thebarman, who finished third behind Protectionist and Red Cadeaux in the 2014 Melbourne Cup, will carry just 54kg.
The now nine-year-old was bred at White Robe Lodge near Dunedin and is owned by prominent New Zealand racing family the Dan, Michael, Shaun and Humphrey O’Leary.
The Nigel Tiley-trained Megablast has also been handed 50kg.
He will run in Saturday’s Kingston Town against Chocante and Who Shot Thebarman.
The Gary Vile-trained Rock On has also been handed 50kg.