It's all about Melbourne Cup penalties at the moment as far as the internationals are concerned...There's strong talk that Irish St Leger winner Sans Frontiere will cop a penalty for that win and also that Eastern Aria is in line for a penalty, though Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Mark Johnston will clap their hands at a penalty -- the mare is 49th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup and would be unlikely to gain a start in the Nov 2 race. But just a one-kilogram penalty would lift her to 51

It's all about Melbourne Cup penalties at the moment as far as the internationals are concerned...There's strong talk that Irish St Leger winner Sans Frontiere will cop a penalty for that win and also that Eastern Aria is in line for a penalty, though Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Mark Johnston will clap their hands at a penalty -- the mare is 49th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup and would be unlikely to gain a start in the Nov 2 race. But just a one-kilogram penalty would lift her to 51.5kgs and take her to about 40th. Connections may then think it's worth the gamble in bringing her to Melbourne.

Latest Cox Plate market: (Moonee Valley, October 23) $4 So You Think; $6 Whobegotyou; $8.50 Shoot Out; $10 More Joyous; $16 Shocking, Metal Bender, Typhoon Tracy, Theseo; $21 Linton, Heart Of Dreams. $26 Vigor, Zipping.

Jim Cassidy's brassed off at reckless riding by some his jockey colleagues...The SMH reports: 'Jim Cassidy has branded the level of interference in Sydney racing ''disgraceful'' - but Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy is not about to push the panic button. Three riders - Blake Shinn, Peter Robl and Tommy Berry - were suspended at Rosehill on Saturday for careless riding but the length of some of the penalties has left many wondering if stewards have gone soft. Cassidy, one of the most experienced riders in the jockeys' room, believes some of his colleagues need to ''take a long hard look at themselves'' and their actions.'

Can Moudre, the boom horse from the country, secure a Cup start this weekend? Well, he gets his chance to nail a guaranteed start. Right now, Moudre is well down the Caulfield Cup's order of entry at equal 45th...but a win in Sat's Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield would mean he's exempt from the cup ballot. Moudre will qualify for a Melbourne Cup start if he can finish in the first eight in the Caulfield Cup. Trainer Ciaron Maher says: 'I really think he can stay the two miles but we've got to get him into the race first and the Caulfield Cup is obviously the best path, so this Saturday is a pretty important day for us. It will shape his spring.'

Zac Purton's off to a flier in the new Hong Kong season. He grabbed a double at Sha Tin on Sunday and now has a two-win lead over Brett Prebble on the jockeys' table with six wins from three meetings. Zac says: 'I only thought I was coming here with two chances today, so it was lucky that they both won.' Prebble failed to ride a winner on Sunday. Champ Douglas Whyte was winnerless, too. Darren Beadman picked up his first winner of the season.