Melbourne Cup weights
 

by PA Sport staff



YEATS has been given top weight for the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 6.

The dual Ascot Gold Cup winner has been allotted 59kg (approximately 9st 4lb), the same as he carried when running seventh in 'the race that stops a nation' 12 months ago.

His trainer Aidan O'Brien has nominated five horses for the race, with Coronation Cup victor Scorpion set to carry 58kg (9st 2lb), Septimus 57kg (9st), and Hitchcock and Mahler both 50kg (7st 12lb).

Luca Cumani's Purple Moon, who pulled off a huge gamble when winning the Ebor at York last month, has been given 53kg (8st 5lb).

Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said Yeats had held the same form as last year and warranted being treated at the same level.

"He was beaten with 59kg in last year's Emirates Melbourne Cup and there's no evidence Yeats is going any better than in 2006, therefore I've assessed him as the same horse and on the same weight," he said.

Racing in Melbourne resumed on Saturday but Sydney remains cancelled with the recent equine flu outbreak spreading to 700 horses stabled at Randwick racecourse late last week.

Hong Kong's Viva Pataca was also allotted 59kg but will not be travelling to Australia with trainer John Moore playing it safe in lieu of the flu outbreak.

Last year's winner, Delta Blues from Japan, was handed 58kg but will not be making the journey for the same reason.

Godolphin's Laverock has been given 56kg (8st 11lb).

There are 257 nominations for November's race but that number will reduce dramatically after first declarations are taken on Tuesday September 11.



***************

How small will this year's field be?

It's looking like the Melbourne Cup could be quite 'weak' this year compared with the past.

It wouldn't be certain to see all of the european challengers either, if the situation was to get worse, which is a possibility at this stage.

Certainly no NZ horses going over for it this year because of the ban on horse travel across the Tasman (not that NZ horses have had much of an impact on the race since Ethereal in 2001 anyway!)

I'd be very surprised if we see a full field this year, and even if we do it will surely be the weakest I've seen probably since Rogan Josh won in 1999. My early guess is that Maybe Better, 3rd to the two Japanese horses last time, will have it all to himself this time.

Hope I'm wrong though.

I have a really stupid question.....

Do they do this every year???

http://www.livinglegends.org.au/gall...ex_cupday.html

Yeah they do. :)

anyone know where I can get the full list of weights. I think Zipping is my fav at the mo!

Oh my God you mean to tell me you can just walk up to Might and Power???

Dying!

I WANT TO GO!!!

Here you go: http://www.vrc.net.au/cpa/htm/htm_fl...sp?race_id=116

thanks!

Yeah it's something I really want to go to as well, NZ-Aus flights are getting cheaper so I'd love to go over to Australia for Melbourne Cup week some time.

Can't this year though, got an exam on Melbourne Cup morning. :(

Sorry you can't go but if you ever get to, please blow Might and Power a kiss for me. :)

I went last year.

Caulfield Cup day was better for me...

Probably only because I backed Tawqeet at upwards of 20-1.

Bought a car with the winnings.

1993 Daihatsu, what a piece of ****.

It's possible that Aidan O'Brien will not be represented at all this year.

Yeah I'd say that's quite likely.

Apparently Mighty is pretty much certain to come though and Purple Moon is likely, so there will at least be some international interest.

a horse that I find interesting is Master O'Reilly, I saw him win in Felmington the day Marasco won the Makybe Diva Stakes (Sept 8th) and this guy came from dead last in a 17 run about 10 wide into the home stretch and won very very easily. I dont know how good the field was and what his plans are but I see he's listed and Ill have to keep an eye on him.

Not heard of him, but i will certainly keep my eye on him in what looks like it could be one of weakest Melbourne Cups in a long time.

It does seem like Aidan has decided against sending any horses over. Mighty couldn't win it if he started now.

Purple Moon would have to be in with a massive chance on form.

He might send Mahler and Scorpion is still possible...

Mahler isn't going..... well that's what i heard last week. Scorpion is still a possible, but John magnier nominated both him and Yeats for France the other day.

It doesn't look like they want to risk sending them over, and at the moment, who can really blame them.

Did you name it Tawqeet? :p

* * *

Racing Post...

Mahler in frame for Melbourne bid

by Tony O'Hehir

MAHLER, runner-up to Lucarno in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday, on Wednesday emerged as "a possible" for the Emirates Melbourne Cup in which the Ballydoyle colt has only 7st 12lb.

Aidan O'Brien, who trains the Queen's Vase winner for Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, said on Wednesday: "We still haven't decided whether we will be represented in the race this year but if we are it will be Scorpion and/or Mahler.

“They both seem to be fine after their races at the weekend and a decision about Melbourne will be made in the next week or so."

Scorpion finished runner-up to stablemate Yeats in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday and O'Brien's comments on Wednesdy would appear to eliminate Yeats, who finished seventh in the big Flemington event last year, and Septimus, the Doncaster Cup winner, from this year's renewal on November 6.

Whereas Septimus is 7-1 favourite with Paddy Power, they do no quote Mahler, who is a 50-1 shot with Bet365 and Stan James.

Going for the killer Tri this weekend

$100 bucks on ............................
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES 1400

FLASH TRICK
UNDUE
ANAMATO

With MURTAJILL as back up for any withdrals, Hope that rain comes down tonight

With 2 Slabs bet on the Cats to win & the Storm im hoping not only to be Very rich after this weekend but also very Drunk:eek:

Hmmmmm, i was told he wasn't going when i asked after the Leger :confused:

It does seem to me that Coolmore are really against sending horses to Australia at the moment.