Fawkner cops 1.5kg weight penalty after Caulfield Cup win

UPDATE: CAULFIELD Cup winner Fawkner will have to carry 54.5kg in the Melbourne Cup after being penalised 1.5kg for Saturday’s stunning win.

Fawkner

UPDATE: CAULFIELD Cup winner Fawkner will have to carry 54.5kg in the Melbourne Cup after being penalised 1.5kg for SaturdayÂ’s stunning win.

Nick Williams, who believes the six-year-old son of Reset is a genuine chance in the 3200m handicap, said “it is about what we expected.”

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter gave Fawkner the same penalty Descarado (2010) and Master O’Reilly (2007) picked up after their Caulfield Cup wins.

“Historically it is at the lower end of the expectations. In the last 20 years, only Viewed and Dunaden have received smaller penalties,” he said.

Carpenter said both Viewed and Dunaden were much higher up the weights when penalised 1kg.

“Descarado, who was a four-year-old, got a 1.5kg penalty that took him to 54kg and Sky Heights in the late 1990s also got 1.5kg, which took him to 56.5kg,’’ he said.

“The winning margin on Saturday was a length and a quarter, from the very impressive English stayer Dandino, with Dear Demi back in third place.

“Both those horses will meet Fawkner 1.5kg better (in the Melbourne Cup).”

Carpenter said Fawkner faced a new challenge.

“If you look at the market for the Melbourne Cup, only four out of the top 17 in betting actually ran in the Caulfield Cup,’’ he said.

“Saturday was his first start beyond 2040m and he won the Caulfield Cup very strong to the line. I think he can be very competitive on the first Tuesday in November with 54.5kg.”
 

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