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World's best trio head Cup Weights 03 Sep 2008
> 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup Weights
The three horses responsible for the best staying performances in the world over the past
twelve months head the weights for the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) released today.
Champion Irish stayer Yeats, which this season won his third straight Ascot Gold Cup (4000m), heads the Emirates Melbourne Cup weights for the third year in a row with 59kg. This is the same weight he carried to finish seventh behind Japanese pair Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006.
Stablemate Septimus, crowned the champion stayer of Europe in 2007, was allotted 58.5kg
in both Cups and heads the weights for the Caulfield Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained star has built up an impressive record in Europe’s feature staying events but is yet to win at Group 1 level.
Reigning Emirates Melbourne Cup champion Efficient will carry 58kg in his bid to become just the sixth horse in history to win the race more than once. The John Sadler-trained five-year-old was allotted 54kg last year and the 4kg increase includes a 2.5kg penalty for last year’s win.
This is the same penalty given to Makybe Diva in 2005 and Delta Blues in 2007.
Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, Weekend Hussler, has received 55.5kg in both Cups.
“In the last 15 years only Octagonal (56.5kg in 1996) and Mahogany (56kg in 1994) have
received more weight as four-year-olds in the Cups,” said Racing Victoria’s Chief
Handicapper Greg Carpenter.
“Like Weekend Hussler, both Octagonal and Mahogany had won six Group 1 races prior to
weights being released, however Octagonal had won the Cox Plate, Tancred Stakes and AJC
Derby, and Mahogany had won the VRC Derby and AJC Derby.”
Weekend Hussler is yet to race beyond 1600 metres.
In the Caulfield Cup, last year’s winner Master O’Reilly will be asked to carry 55kg in his bid
to become the seventh multiple winner of the race.
Of the other key international entries the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush and Bauer have
received 53.5kg and 51kg respectively in both races, while the Godolphin-trained All The
Good will carry 53kg.
Darley Australian Cup winner Sirmione received 56kg and Brisbane Cup winner Viewed,
53kg. The pair provide the best hope for Cups King Bart Cummings to claim his 12th
Melbourne Cup.
New Zealand Derby winner C’est La Guerre, VRC Derby winner Kibbutz and AJC Derby
winner Nom De Jeu all received 54kg. Australia’s champion filly of last season and AJC Oaks
winner Heavenly Glow was allotted 52.5kg, Australasian Oaks and SA Derby winner Zarita
received 52kg, as did New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless, while Riva San, winner of the
Queensland Oaks-Derby double, received 51.5kg.
> 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup Weights
The three horses responsible for the best staying performances in the world over the past
twelve months head the weights for the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) released today.
Champion Irish stayer Yeats, which this season won his third straight Ascot Gold Cup (4000m), heads the Emirates Melbourne Cup weights for the third year in a row with 59kg. This is the same weight he carried to finish seventh behind Japanese pair Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006.
Stablemate Septimus, crowned the champion stayer of Europe in 2007, was allotted 58.5kg
in both Cups and heads the weights for the Caulfield Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained star has built up an impressive record in Europe’s feature staying events but is yet to win at Group 1 level.
Reigning Emirates Melbourne Cup champion Efficient will carry 58kg in his bid to become just the sixth horse in history to win the race more than once. The John Sadler-trained five-year-old was allotted 54kg last year and the 4kg increase includes a 2.5kg penalty for last year’s win.
This is the same penalty given to Makybe Diva in 2005 and Delta Blues in 2007.
Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, Weekend Hussler, has received 55.5kg in both Cups.
“In the last 15 years only Octagonal (56.5kg in 1996) and Mahogany (56kg in 1994) have
received more weight as four-year-olds in the Cups,” said Racing Victoria’s Chief
Handicapper Greg Carpenter.
“Like Weekend Hussler, both Octagonal and Mahogany had won six Group 1 races prior to
weights being released, however Octagonal had won the Cox Plate, Tancred Stakes and AJC
Derby, and Mahogany had won the VRC Derby and AJC Derby.”
Weekend Hussler is yet to race beyond 1600 metres.
In the Caulfield Cup, last year’s winner Master O’Reilly will be asked to carry 55kg in his bid
to become the seventh multiple winner of the race.
Of the other key international entries the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush and Bauer have
received 53.5kg and 51kg respectively in both races, while the Godolphin-trained All The
Good will carry 53kg.
Darley Australian Cup winner Sirmione received 56kg and Brisbane Cup winner Viewed,
53kg. The pair provide the best hope for Cups King Bart Cummings to claim his 12th
Melbourne Cup.
New Zealand Derby winner C’est La Guerre, VRC Derby winner Kibbutz and AJC Derby
winner Nom De Jeu all received 54kg. Australia’s champion filly of last season and AJC Oaks
winner Heavenly Glow was allotted 52.5kg, Australasian Oaks and SA Derby winner Zarita
received 52kg, as did New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless, while Riva San, winner of the
Queensland Oaks-Derby double, received 51.5kg.
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