Efficient, Maldivian head weights for Caulfield and Melbourne Cups

By Brians Newsflash

The weights for the 2009 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) were headed by Australian horses when handicaps were released by Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter today. 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient and reigning Tatts Cox Plate champion Maldivian were both allocated 58kg and have the honour of heading the handicaps for both Cups this year.Since Vintage Crop became the first internationally-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup in 1993, the

Since Vintage Crop became the first internationally-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup in 1993, the only other Australian-trained horse to be at the top of the weights was former champion West Australian galloper Northerly, when he was given 60kg in 2004. Efficient was allocated 58kg in 2008 but was ruled out of Cup contention through injury. Peter Pan is the only other horse to win two Cups (1932 and 1934) having missed the interceding renewal through injury.

The Mark Kavanagh trained Maldivian has not raced since winning the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield in February. At his previous outing the star of WFA racing led all the way to win the Cox Plate over 2040m. Next in the weights is Viewed who gave Bart Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup victory last year and has been allocated 57kg, an increase of 4kg over his winning weight of 53kg. Viewed seeks to join Archer (1861-2), Rain Lover (1968-9), Think Big (1974-5) and Makybe Diva (2003-4-5) as the only horses to win the race in successive years. Think Big, also trained by the Cups King, received a 5.5kg penalty after his 1974 win, which included a 1.5kg weight-for-age component and Cup heroine Makybe Diva had her weight increased by 4.5kg after her initial success in 2003.

RVL Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter said, "The 4kg increase given to Viewed is the same penalty applied to previous winners such as Media Puzzle, Kingston Rule, Black Knight and Gold and Black in the modern era. It is slightly less than the penalty given to Makybe Diva after her initial success and a similar penalty to that issued to Think Big when taking into account the weight-for-age component."

World racing powerhouse Godolphin, which won the 2008 Caulfield Cup with All The Good, have the highest weighted international entries. Eastern Anthem which won the Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night in March and Schiaparelli, winner of the Goodwood Cup and Prix Kergolay in Europe this year, have both been allocated 57kg. Another Godolphin entry Kirklees is next in the weights with 56kg.

Irish master trainer Dermot Weld, the only European to win the Melbourne Cup and striving for a third victory in the race after success with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), is represented by six year old mare Profound Beauty (53.5kg). This is a 2kg increase over the weight she carried to fifth placing in last year's race. Weld's other entries, Ghimaar and Directa King, are both on the minimum of 50kg.

Carpenter said, "The 2kg increase for Profound Beauty reflects the progression she has demonstrated in Ireland this year being undefeated in her three starts. It is the same weight Empire Rose carried to victory in 1988 and the only mare to win the Melbourne Cup with more is Makybe Diva" (55.5kg in 2004 and 58kg in 2005).

The highest weighted mare in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups this year is Gai Waterhouse's four time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy. She received 54.5kg, the same weight allocated to her in 2008. The American trained Black Mamba was allocated 53kg as was English St Leger runner up Unsung Heroine who is now prepared in Australia by David Hayes.

Of the other key international entries the Luca Cumani trained Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico have 55.5kg and 51.5kg respectively; while Marcus Tregoning's recent Lonsdale Cup winner Askar Tau received 53.5kg. South African trainer Mike de Kock's dual entries Macarthur and King of Rome were allocated 55kg and 54kg respectively. Champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien who had three runners in the Melbourne Cup last year has entered four Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds for the race with Age of Aquarius on 51kg and Ebor Handicap runner-up Changingoftheguard with 50.5kg being the best regarded of his possible runners.

English trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who has previously started Distinction (2004 and 2005) and Daliapour (2002) in the Melbourne Cup is represented by Doctor Fremantle, a last start winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes on 55kg and Warringah with 52.5kg. Mourilyan prepared in England by Gary Moore, was allocated 54.5kg after his impressive victory in the March Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday. Munsef a last start winner of the Chester Stakes for trainer Ian Williams has 53kg.

Amongst the star line-up of Australian four-year-olds this season Victoria and South Australia Derby winner Rebel Raider received 54.5kg, while AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor, Caulfield Guineas hero Whobegotyou and Randwick and Rosehill Guineas winner Metal Bender all received 54kg. Reigning Caulfield Cup favourite, Predatory Pricer, who resumed with an outstanding win in the J.J. Liston Stakes on 15 August, has been allocated 53.5kg.

New Zealander Daffodil, winner of the AJC Oaks and the Mick Price trained Gallica were the highest regarded four-year-old mares with 51.5kg. Queensland Oaks winner Purple and outstanding mare Typhoon Tracy both received 51kg. Jungle Rocket who won the New Zealand Oaks received 50.5kg.

First declarations for the BMW Caulfield Cup, Tatts Cox Plate and Emirates Melbourne Cup close at 12 Noon, Tuesday 8 September 2009.