Fiorente’s flashy finish to win the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday not only confirmed the Gai Waterhouse-trained import’s status as a major Spring Racing Carnival player, but elevated the horse to ballot exempt status in next month’s $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m), reports Racing Victoria.

Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, today released an updated Order of Entry for the Cup with Fiorente, who occupies the fourth line of betting in TAB’s market ($15), joining Foreteller and Tuscan Fire as the three horses currently guaranteed a start as the winner of ballot exemption races.

The Chris Waller-trained Foreteller claimed his ballot exemption when winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on 7 September, while Tuscan Fire assured his start in the 19 October feature after victory in the Listed Centrebet Mornington Cup (2400m) in February this year.

Carpenter said the efforts of the Peter Moody-trained import Lidari and emerging stayer Prince Cheri, who is trained by Sydney’s David Vandyke, had improved their position in the ballot over the weekend also.

Lidari snuck home along the fence in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam to fill third behind Fiorente and in so doing, passed the first ballot clause as he has now been placed in a Group race over 1600m or further.

“Lidari was allocted 51.5kg when weights were released and moves from equal 75th to equal 42nd in the elimination order having now passed the first ballot clause with his close-up third,” Carpenter said.

Impressive entire Prince Cheri, a $21 Caulfield Cup chance with the TAB, has been penalised 1kg by Carpenter to 51kg after winning the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

“Prince Cheri is lightly raced and has developed a very progressive profile winning at his first attempt at Group level when beating Honorius in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes,” Carpenter said.

“Prince Cheri has now passed the first ballot clause for the Caulfield Cup and moves from equal 77th to equal 44th in the elimination order with his 1kg penalty.”

The Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 D’Urban Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Carnival Preview Day this Saturday, 21 September, are the next races to offer the winner a ballot exemption in the Caulfield Cup.

Acceptances for the Underwood Stakes will close at 8.30am on Wednesday, while acceptances for the Naturalism Stakes will close at 10am on the same day. Second declarations for the Caulfield Cup close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 24 September. 

Click to view updated BMW Caulfield Cup Order of Entry

Click to view BMW Caulfield Cup First Acceptances