RV handicapper Greg Carpenter says he will be disappointed if Irish star doesn’t contest Melbourne Cup
RACING Victoria’s Greg Carpenter has thrown down the gauntlet to Lloyd Williams, declaring he will be disappointed if Order Of St George doesn’t contest the Melbourne Cup.
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RACING Victoria’s Greg Carpenter has thrown down the gauntlet to Lloyd Williams, declaring he will be bitterly disappointed if Order Of St George doesn’t contest this year’s Melbourne Cup.
The most successful Melbourne Cup owner in history with five wins, Williams has warned Order Of St George will bypass the $6.25 million handicap if he receives too much weight.
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Carpenter, who will release the weights on September 12, says the Ascot Gold Cup and Irish St Leger winner would be “up near the top of the weights”.
The brinkmanship between leviathan owner and handicapping expert continued to play out as another powerful contingent of overseas contenders — including Order Of St George — head the entries for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups.
“I’ll be bitterly disappointed if, having nominated for the third time, that Order Of St George doesn’t travel to Melbourne this year to run in what is the greatest staying race over 3200m in the world,” Carpenter said after 140 horses were nominated for the Flemington feature.
“No doubt (trainer) Aidan (O’Brien) will be running Order Of St George in the Irish St Leger a couple of days before the weights come out. And I would be very disappointed, as I said, if Order Of St George doesn’t travel.”
Carpenter allotted Order Of St George — third in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — 58kg last year and 54.5kg in 2016. He warned the Irish star would again be near the top of the handicaps.
“There’s no doubt a horse with his record that he’s going to be up near the top of the weights in the Melbourne Cup.” Carpenter said. “When weights are released, the topweight has to have at least 58. I’m presuming he’ll have one more run in the Irish St Leger ... so it’s a long way from settled what weight he’ll get. But he’s a world-class stayer.”
Order Of St George is among a potent international contingent from seven countries in the entries for the Australia’s two most prestigious staying handicaps.
While Darren Weir has 17 Melbourne Cup and 20 Caulfield Cup nominations, Australia’s leading trainer could face rivals from Japan, France, Germany, England, Ireland and for the first time, Scotland.
A total of 33 northern hemisphere horses from 20 stables have been entered across the two features with 31 in the Melbourne Cup and 22 in the Caulfield Cup.
The international armada includes recent winners of the Ebor Handicap (Nakeeta), Prix de Kergorlay (Marmelo) and Prix de Deauville (Tiberian).
There are also the winners of the Belmont Gold Cup (Red Cardinal), Irish St Leger Trial (Order of St George) and Curragh Cup (Rekindling). Other notable nominations include Hardwicke Stakes runner-up Barsanti, 2016 Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave, 2015 Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite and top Japanese stayer Albert.
Last year’s winner Almandin — also part-owned by Williams — will attempt to become only the fifth horse to win successive Melbourne Cups. Carpenter acknowledged Almandin’s challenge to become only the fifth horse in history to snare successive cups.
“It’s well established that it’s a very big challenge for horses to return 12 months later and win the race for a second time,” Carpenter said. “There’s only been a small number (four) of horses who’ve been able to do that. But he’s got an outstanding record.”
THE CUPS BREAKDOWN
$6.25m MELBOURNE CUP (3200m)
Flemington, November 7
140 nominations
31 internationals (18 United Kingdom, 7 Ireland, 3 France, 2 Germany, 1 Japan).
THE INTERNATIONALS
A total of 33 northern hemisphere-trained horses from 20 stables have been nominated for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups.
The foreign entry stems from traditional powerhouses Ireland, England, Germany, France and Japan — and, for the first time, Scotland (Nakeeta, trained by Iain Jardine).
Last year’s joint topweight Order Of St George is among Aidan O’Brien’s trio of entries, while O’Brien’s son Joseph has entered Rekindling.
THE LOCALS
Befitting the nation’s most prolific trainer, Darren Weir has 20 Melbourne Cup and 17 Caulfield Cup entries as the Ballarat horseman attempts to stave off the foreign invasion. Lloyd Williams’ trainer Robert Hickmott has nominated 12 horses for both the Cups, spearheaded by last year’s winner and ruling favourite Almandin.
THE BLUE ARMY
Arch-rivals Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby have a total of eight entries with the return of Appleby’s Francis Of Assisi and Qewy.
THE CUMMINGS FACTOR
Hoping to emulate his legendary grandfather, James Cummings has two quality entries for Godolphin’s Australian operation — last year’s third placegetter Hartnell and Tally.
HE’S BACK
Germany’s Andreas Wohler returns with one-time favourite Red Cardinal. Wohler won the 2014 Cup with Protectionist for Australian Bloodstock — which also owns Red Cardinal.
JAPANESE SHORTAGE
There’s only one Japanese-trained horse on the horizon this year — Admire, who was a decent fifth behind superstar Kitasan Black in Japan’s premier 3200m race, the Tenno Sho. Darren Weir will soon take over the training of another Japanese gun, Admire Deus.
$3.15m CAULFIELD CUP (2400m)
Caulfield, October 21
142 nominations
22 internationals (11 UK, 7 Ireland, 3 France, 1 Germany).
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