The all-important weights for the world’s richest 2400-metre handicap, the $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup on 19 October, were released today by Racing Victoria (RV) with great interest in the handicap allotted firming TAB favourite Super Cool. The reigning Australian Cup champion, whose odds were trimmed to $9 following a slashing first-up third in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday, has been allotted 55kg.

Charged with breaking premier trainer Mark Kavanagh’s hoodoo in the Caulfield Cup, Super Cool carries the right profile into the race with four-year-olds successful in 12 of the past 20 editions, but his weight represents a genuine challenge.

Only four horses have carried more than 54.5kg to victory in the Caulfield Cup in the past 20 years, that being Dunaden (58kg, 2012), Viewed (57kg, 2009), Northerly (58kg, 2002) and Sky Heights (56.5kg) who holds the modern day four-year-old record.

In releasing the weights, Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, said that Super Cool had joined elite company when winning the Australian Cup and that this was a determining factor in the weight assigned.

“Super Cool was the first three-year-old since Saintly to win the Australian Cup and is one of only three to do so. Saintly was allotted 55.5kg in the Caulfield Cup as a four-year-old, but did not run, instead winning the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup,” Carpenter explained.

Reigning Emirates Melbourne Cup champion Green Moon has been allocated topweight of 58kg in this year’s Caulfield Cup, with his Robert Hickmott-trained and Lloyd Williams-owned stablemate Sea Moon, who makes his Australian debut Saturday at Flemington, on 57kg.

“Only five Melbourne Cup winners have gone on to win the Caulfield Cup in 135 years, but two of those have been in recent times in Dunaden and Viewed who have a similar weight profile to Green Moon should he take up the challenge,” Carpenter said.

“Sea Moon required considerable thought as the highest weighted non-Group 1 winner, but he was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2012 over Dunaden and Red Cadeaux and has been placed in an English St Leger,” he added.

Joining Sea Moon on 57kg is this season’s Dubai World Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, with Peter Moody’s 2012 Australian Cup winner Manighar allotted 56.5kg – the same weight he carried into fourth place in the 2011 Caulfield Cup.

Melbourne Cup runner-up Fiorente, who is prepared by 2010 Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse, has been given 55.5kg as too has four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender who is on the comeback trail after a 16 month layoff.

Other notable entries and their weights are;

  • Dandino (55kg) – UK-trained, Australian-owned last start winner of the American St Leger who sits on the third line of TAB’s market at $15.
  • Ethiopia (55kg) – 2012 ATC Derby winner who has raced just once since finishing last in the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Nominated to resume on Saturday at Flemington.
  • Masked Marvel (54.5kg) – 2011 English St Leger winner and stablemate of Green Moon and Sea Moon. Set to make Australian debut on Saturday at Flemington.
  • Bayrir (54.5kg) – Group 1-winning French import who was runner-up for trainer Chris Waller at his Australian debut in Sydney last month.
  • Beaten Up (54.5kg) – One of several high profile Chris Waller entries. Won Group 1 Doomben Cup under WFA conditions in May when carrying 59kg.
  • Simenon (54kg) – Irish trained entrant who is likely to secure a start with 54kg. Runner-up in the famous Ascot Gold Cup and Lonsdale Cup at past two UK starts.
  • Jet Away (53.5kg) – TAB second favourite ($11) for the Caulfield Cup, who is unbeaten in two Australian starts for master trainer David Hayes.
  • Hawkspur (53kg) – Second highest weighted four-year-old. Won a trio of features during the Brisbane Winter Carnival including the Queensland Derby.
  • Royal Descent (52.5kg) – Highest weighted four-year-old mare who blitzed rivals in the 2013 ATC Oaks. Last four-year-old mare to win is Southern Speed (2011).
  • Tuscan Fire (52kg) – Former jumper who claimed a ballot exemption with victory in February’s Mornington Cup. Has carried 52kg or less only once in 48 career starts.
  • Dear Demi (51.5kg) – 2012 VRC Oaks winner who gains 1kg off Royal Descent for her defeat in the ATC Oaks. Nominated to resume on Saturday at Flemington.
  • Prince Cheri (50kg) – Highly touted Sydney five-year-old who is the veteran of just five starts and $21 in TAB’s market. Will need to win a ballot exemption to gain a start. 

First acceptances for the Caulfield Cup will be taken at 12 noon on Tuesday, 10 September.

The full set of weights for the 2013 BMW Caulfield Cup are available here.