Defending champ Gold Trip faces ‘significant challenge’ following release of Melbourne Cup weights
Melbourne Cup weights are out and reigning champion Gold Trip will need to overcome a 48-year hoodoo in his bid for back-to-back wins.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip has 48 years of handicapping history to overcome in a bid for back-to-back triumphs on the first Tuesday in November.
Racing Victoria head handicapper David Hegan said Gold Trip, topweight of 58.5kg for both Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, presented the “biggest challenge” in the deliberations.
Think Big (58.5kg) was the last horse to carry more than 58kg to victory in the Cup in 1975.
Legend Makybe Diva carried 58kg in her famous third-straight Cup success in 2005, while Verry Elleegant lumped 57kg to victory in 2021.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE MELBOURNE CUP AND CAULFIELD CUP WEIGHTS
Twilight Payment, the 2020 Cup winner with 55.5kg, finished 11th in 2021 with 58kg.
Gold Trip raced with 57.5kg last year – 1kg more than entitled to on ratings and performance due to the absence of a natural topweight.
“We have effectively lifted Gold Trip 2kg from his true weight last year, which is less than the penalty afforded other Melbourne Cup winners in recent times,” Hegan said.
“However, we are mindful that it is 48 years since a horse has carried 58.5kg to victory in either Cup so a significant challenge awaits.”
Current Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban, who entered pre-export quarantine in the UK last weekend, has been allotted 55kg, along with Japanese raider Breakup.
Willie Mullins-trained Vauban carried 61kg at his past two starts, a 7½-length handicap romp at Royal Ascot and a 1½-length Group 3 triumph at York.
Hegan said the handicapping panel felt “comfortable” with the 55kg impost on Vauban, based on his international flat rating of 114.
“Most horses have a threshold, when they get to a certain weight they cannot perform to those levels,” Hegan said.
“I dare say whether he carries 54kg to 55kg to 56kg … he can carry the weight no issue.
“It may work out his threshold for the performance difference is beyond 55kg, we can only rate him on the flat form and what he’s done … we have weighted him right up to that rating.”
Up to six internationals could figure in the Cup this year, including Ebor Handicap winner Absurde (53kg), Okita Soushi (51.5kg), Scriptwriter (50.5kg) and Valiant King (50kg).
No horse has completed the Ebor-Melbourne Cup double, with Heartbreak City and Purple Moon closest as runners-up at Flemington in 2016 and 2007 respectively.
Three or four overseas raiders in the Cup, taking in attrition and changes of plans, would be considered a strong result for the Victoria Racing Club.
Desert Hero (51.5kg) Lastotchka (51kg) and Tower Of London (50.5kg) must clear pre-export vet checks and enter quarantine in the UK by October 1 to travel to Melbourne.
Former internationals Hoo Ya Mal, Soulcombe and Francesco all sit within the 53kg-54kg range, while Cup golden ticket winners Lunar Flare (Andrew Ramsden Stakes) and Goldman (The Roy Higgins) get in with 51.5kg and 52kg respectively.
First acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken on October 3.
Topweights
Gold Trip, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, 58.5kg
Alenquer, Michael Moroney, 56.5kg
Broome, Aidan O’Brien, 56.5kg
Without A Fight, Anthony & Sam Freedman, 55.5kg
Spanish Mission, Peter Moody, 55.5kg
Notable Internationals
Vauban, Willie Mullins, 55kg
Breakup, Tatsuya Yoshioka, 55kg
West Wind Blows, Simon & Ed Crisford, 54kg
Absurde, Willie Mullins, 53kg
Desert Hero, William Haggas, 51.5kg
Notable 4YOs
Kovalica, Chris Waller, 53.5kg
Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Graeme & Deborah Rogerson, 53.5kg
Major Beel, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, 53kg
Manzoice, Chris Waller, 53kg
Notable Locals
Francesco Guardi, Chris Waller, 54kg
Soulcombe, Chris Waller, 53.5kg
Goldman, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, 52kg
Lunar Flare, Grahame Begg, 51.5kg.
Caulfield Cup raider Blows under radar
Caulfield Cup international contender West Wind Blows has “snuck under the guard”, Racing Victoria head handicapper David Hegan warns.
West Wind Blows, a $15 chance in TAB’s all-in Caulfield Cup market, has settled into quarantine at Werribee ahead of an Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes next month at Flemington.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows, a multiple Group 3 winner, has form around Group 1 stars Paddington and Pyledriver.
The five-year-old, allotted 54kg in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, has hovered around the 111 rating mark the past four starts, including a win and three places since being gelded in May.
“I suspect maybe he’s slightly better than where he is,” Hegan warned.
“He now posts a rating of 112 for his last start second in the Group 3 Winter Hill at Windsor, but he’s been a very consistent horse.
“Turnbull Stakes will be a day of trepidation for us because if he comes out and runs above the level we’ve got him, well then probably you could safely say, maybe, he’s snuck under the guard.”
West Wind Blows is nominated for the Melbourne Cup but RV safety protocols prohibit the overseas horses from racing twice in Australia before the first Tuesday in November.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained galloper could run in the Turnbull and Caulfield Cup as expected, before a tilt at the Champions Stakes at Flemington in Melbourne Cup week.
Champion trainer Chris Waller’s quest for back-to-back Caulfield Cups – and a third success in four years – is spearheaded by Francesco Guardi (54kg) and Soulcombe (53.5kg).
Montefilia, transferred to Waller in July after being sold, has 54.5kg in her bid to improve on her fourth place finishes in the Caulfield Cup the past two years.
Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained Breakup has 55kg in the quest to become the third Japanese horse to win the Caulfield Cup after Admire Rakti (2014) and Mer De Glace (2019).
Right You Are (53kg) is currently the only horse assured a start in the Caulfield Cup, having won the qualifying Mornington Cup earlier in the year.
The winners of Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 Foundation Cup (2000m) on Saturday will receive golden tickets into the Caulfield Cup.
MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS
GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg
ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney 56.5kg
BROOME (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 56.5kg
ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker 55.5k
EL BODEGON (IRE) Chris Waller 55.5kg
SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 55.5kg
WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 55.5kg
BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka 55kg
VAUBAN (FR) Willie Mullins 55kg
MONTEFILIA Chris Waller 54.5kg
DUAIS Edward Cummings 54kg
FRANCESCO GUARDI Chris Waller 54kg
KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 54kg
SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 54kg
WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) Simon & Ed Crisford 54kg
KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller 53.5kg
POUNDING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 53.5kg
SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) Graeme & Deborah Rogerson 53.5kg
SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller 53.5kg
ABSURDE (FR) Willie Mullins 53kg
DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg
HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 53kg
LINDERMANN Chris Waller 53kg
MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 53kg
MANZOICE Chris Waller 53kg
RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg
VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien 53kg
JUST FINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 52.5kg
REGAL POWER John Leek (Jr) 52.5kg
ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 52.5kg
EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney 52kg
FLOATING ARTIST Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 52kg
GOLDMAN (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 52kg
HINGED Chris Waller 52kg
NAVAJO PEAK David Payne 52kg
PROTAGONIST Kris Lees 52kg
ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 51.5kg
CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees 51.5kg
DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR Phillip Stokes 51.5kg
DARK DESTROYER (NZ) John O’Shea 51.5kg
DESERT HERO (GB) William Haggas 51.5kg
LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg 51.5kg
OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg
SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 51.5kg
ALEGRON James Cummings 51kg
BENAUD John O’Shea 51kg
BUSTER BASH David Harrison 51kg
FAME Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 51kg
KING FRANKEL (IRE) Annabel Neasham 51kg
LASTOTCHKA (FR) Jean-Marie Beguigne 51kg
MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
SERPENTINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg
UNCLE BRYN (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley 51kg
HOSIER (IRE) Mark Minervini 50.5kg
MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 50.5kg
SCRIPTWRITER (IRE) Milton Harris 50.5kg
TOWER OF LONDON (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 50.5kg
ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 50kg
AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
ALASKAN GOD Daniel Morton 50kg
ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 50kg
AMADE (IRE) Phillip Stokes 50kg
ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea 50kg
BANK MAUR Richard Laming 50kg
BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald 50kg
BERKELEY SQUARE Dan O’Sullivan 50kg
BRAYDEN STAR (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
CARINI (FR) Danny O’Brien 50kg
CONVENER (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
DENMARK (GB) Aidan O’Brien 50kg
DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Michael Kent 50kg
DILLIAN (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
DUKE OF HASTINGS (NZ) Simon Zahra 50kg
EL PATRONESS Danny O’Brien 50kg
ESS VEE ARE (NZ) Darryn & Briar Weatherley 50kg
FANCY MAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham 50kg
FERAGO Patrick Ryan Jr 50kg
FIREBURN Gary Portelli 50kg
FIRST IMMORTAL Mark & Levi Kavanagh 50kg
FOREIGN RAIDER John Sadler 50kg
FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) Andrew Forsman 50kg
FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
GARACHICO (GB) Leon & Troy Corstens 50kg
GEAR UP (IRE) Annabel Neasham 50kg
GREENLAND (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 50kg
GREGOLIMO (FR) Michael Moroney 50kg
HARBOUR WIND (IRE) Dermot Weld 50kg
HASTA LA WAR Sue Murphy 50kg
HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
HIGHLAND JAKK (NZ) Robert Hickmott 50kg
INSULATION (GB)Peter G Moody & Katerine Coleman 50kg
INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees 50kg
LADIES MAN (NZ) Allan Sharrock 50kg
LIONEL (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
MAHRAJAAN (USA) Shaune Ritchie 50kg
MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 50kg
MOYA LASS Julius Sandhu 50kg
MR BUSTER (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
MR WATERVILLE (IRE) Chris Waller 50kg
MURAMASA Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
NOAH ’N’ A DEEL Les Kelly 50kg
OUTLANDOS John Sargent 50kg
PESHMERGA (GER) Robert Quinn 50kg
PESTO (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 50kg
POINT NEPEAN (IRE) Ben, Will & JD Hayes 50kg
PROMISES KEPT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
QUEEN AIR Lindsey Smith 50kg
RAGING BULL David Payne 50kg
REBEL RACER Amy & Ash Yargi 50kg
REO Richard Laming 50kg
SHAIYHAR (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton 50kg
SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 50kg
SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) Matthew Smith 50kg
ST VINCENTS GARDEN (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 50kg
STAFFORD’S LAD Daniel Morton 50kg
SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
THE MAP Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray 50kg
TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller 50kg
TORRENS Marc Chevalier 50kg
TRUE MARVEL (FR) Matthew Smith 50kg
UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
VALIANT KING (GB) Joseph O’Brien 50kg
VERONA (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
WIN O’CLOCK (GB) Matthew Williams 50kg
WINEGLASS BAY (IRE) Chris Waller 50kg
YAPHET Cliff Brown 50kg
YOUTH SPIRIT (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 50kg
MEDATSU (NZ) Chris Waller 49kg
TOKYO RUN (NZ) Dean Mirfin 49kg
CAULFIELD CUP WEIGHTS
GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg
ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney 56.5kg
EL BODEGON (IRE) Chris Waller 55.5kg
MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham 55.5kg
SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 55.5kg
WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 55.5kg
BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka 55kg
MONTEFILIA Chris Waller 54.5kg
DUAIS Edward Cummings 54kg
FRANCESCO GUARDI Chris Waller 54kg
KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 54kg
SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 54kg
WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) Simon & Ed Crisford 54kg
KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller 53.5kg
NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg 53.5kg
POUNDING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 53.5kg
SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) Graeme & Deborah Rogerson 53.5kg
SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller 53.5kg
DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg
HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 53kg
LINDERMANN Chris Waller 53kg
MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 53kg
MANZOICE Chris Waller 53kg
RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg
HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr 52.5kg
REGAL POWER John Leek (Jr) 52.5kg
ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 52.5kg
EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney 52kg
FLOATING ARTIST Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 52kg
GOLDMAN (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 52kg
HINGED Chris Waller 52kg
HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker 52kg
NAVAJO PEAK David Payne 52kg
PROTAGONIST Kris Lees 52kg
DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR Phillip Stokes 51.5kg
DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea 51.5kg
LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg 51.5kg
OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg
SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 51.5kg
ATTRITION Mitchell Freedman 51kg
BENAUD John O’Shea 51kg
BUSTER BASH David Harrison 51kg
FAME Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 51kg
KING FRANKEL (IRE) Annabel Neasham 51kg
MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
SERPENTINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg
UNCLE BRYN (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley 51kg
BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) Annabel Neasham 50.5kg
HOSIER (IRE) Mark Minervini 50.5kg
SPIRIT RIDGE (GB) Annabel Neasham 50.5kg
ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 50kg
AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
ALASKAN GOD Daniel Morton 50kg
ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea 50kg
BANK MAUR Richard Laming 50kg
BARBIE’S FOX Ben, Will & JD Hayes 50kg
BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald 50kg
BERKELEY SQUARE Dan O’Sullivan 50kg
BORN A KING (GB) Chris Waller 50kg
BRAYDEN STAR (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
CARINI (FR) Danny O’Brien 50kg
CONVENER (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
DIVUS ROMULUS (IRE) Nick Ryan 50kg
EL PATRONESS Danny O’Brien 50kg
FANCY MAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham 50kg
FIREBURN Gary Portelli 50kg
FIRST IMMORTAL Mark & Levi Kavanagh 50kg
FORGOT YOU (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
FOUJITA SAN Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 50kg
FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) Andrew Forsman 50kg
GARACHICO (GB) Leon & Troy Corstens 50kg
GEAR UP (IRE) Annabel Neasham 50kg
GEORGIE GET MAD (GB) Denis Pagan 50kg
GREENLAND (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 50kg
GREGOLIMO (FR) Michael Moroney 50kg
HAARACAINE (IRE) Nick Ryan 50kg
HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees 50kg
LIONEL (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
MAKRAM (IRE) Ben, Will & JD Hayes 50kg
MILFORD (NZ) Michael Moroney 50kg
MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 50kg
MOYA LASS Julius Sandhu 50kg
MR WATERVILLE (IRE) Chris Waller 50kg
POINT NEPEAN (IRE) Ben, Will & JD Hayes 50kg
POLITICAL DEBATE Chris Waller 50kg
QUEEN AIR Lindsey Smith 50kg
REO Richard Laming 50kg
SHAIYHAR (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton 50kg
SIBAAQ (GB) Annabel Neasham 50kg
SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 50kg
SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
THE SUMMIT (FR) Ben, Will & JD Hayes 50kg
TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller 50kg
UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
VALIANT KING (GB) Joseph O’Brien 50kg
VARDANI (FR) Archie Alexander 50kg
VERONA (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
WIN O’CLOCK (GB) Matthew Williams 50kg
WINEGLASS BAY (IRE) Chris Waller 50kg
Originally published as Defending champ Gold Trip faces ‘significant challenge’ following release of Melbourne Cup weights