Irish entries from master trainer Aidan O’Brien feature among the topweights for the G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The weights were released on Tuesday by Racing Victoria’s (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter with the three highest weighted horses in the Caulfield Cup O’Brien’s Group 1-winning Galileo (Ire) trio of Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) with 58.5kg, Japan (GB) also has 58.5kg and Magical (Ire) on 58kg.
With the latter two only nominated for the Caulfield Cup, 2019 G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is the sole topweight for the Melbourne Cup with 58.5kg.
O’Brien’s 2019 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is among a trio of horses allotted 57kg in both races, making them the equal second highest weighted horses in the Melbourne Cup.
Defending Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (white and orange cap)
The other two are defending Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Godolphin’s three-time Group 1 winner Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has been allotted 53.5kg making him the highest weighted Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old in both races alongside Aidan O’Brien’s 2020 Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).
Baby gets another 1kg
Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking), the pre-weights Melbourne Cup favourite, has been handed 54.5kg in both races, 1kg more than he carried into fifth place in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Of the other horses highly fancied in pre-post betting for both Cups, Chris Waller’s four-time Group 1-winning mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has been allocated 55kg in each, while Team Hawkes’ Master Of Wine (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), has been weighted on 53.5kg.
“Aidan O’Brien’s entries are the standouts on performances over the past 18 months and have been handicapped accordingly at the top of the weights for this year’s Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and Lexus Melbourne Cup,” Carpenter said.
“Aidan O’Brien’s entries are the standouts on performances over the past 18 months and have been handicapped accordingly." - Greg Carpenter
“The joint Caulfield Cup topweights Anthony Van Dyck and Japan were both Group 1 winners over 2400 metres in 2019 and have been placed behind the world’s highest rated horse Ghaiyyath this year. Anthony Van Dyck holds the honour of sole topweight in the Melbourne Cup with Japan not nominated.
“The outstanding Magical, who is a six-time Group 1 winner and nominated for the Caulfield Cup only, has 58kg and will need to set a weight carrying record for a mare with Tranquil Star claiming that mark when winning the 1942 Caulfield Cup with 56kg.
“There’s a challenge been set for talented local mare Verry Elleegant also, who has 55kg in both Cups. Makybe Diva is the only mare to carry more than 55kg to victory in the Melbourne Cup having done so in 2004 (55.5kg) and 2005 (58kg), the latter being the last time a mare has placed in our most famous race.
“There is always great interest in what weight is given to the defending Melbourne Cup champion and this year that is Vow And Declare, who rises to 57kg having won the race with 52kg last year for Australia with Craig Williams in the saddle for Danny O’Brien.”
