Brimham Rocks (GB) ridden by Michael Walker wins the East Malvern Bendigo Bank MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield Racecourse on September 21, 2019 in Caulfield, Australia. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager - Racing, Greg Carpenter, has elected not to issue a weight penalty to the Chris Waller-trained Brimham Rocks in the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Brimham Rocks won the Group 3 East Malvern Bendigo Bank MRC Foundation Cup (registered as the Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday, a ballot exempt race for the $5 million Caulfield Cup on 19 October 2019.
As a result, the six-year-old gelding has moved to the head of the Caulfield Cup ballot alongside fellow exemption winners Homesman and Self Sense where he remains on 52kg.
Waller, who is chasing his first Caulfield Cup, will be hoping to emulate the feats of Jameka who completed the Naturalism Stakes-Caulfield Cup double in 2016.
Brimham Rocks, who has 51.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, is in 75th position in the Order of Entry for the $8 million race at Flemington on 5 November 2019 meaning he will likely need to win another feature race during the spring to force his way in.
He narrowly missed doing that 12 months ago when second, beaten a half-length by Prince of Arran, in the final ballot exemption race for the 2018 Melbourne Cup, the Lexus Stakes (registered as Hotham Handicap) (2500m).
Carpenter said: “Brimham Rocks’ weight in this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups was based on his strong form from his 2018 Spring campaign. He already meets horses like Sikandarabad, Gallic Chieftain and Steel Prince 1kg worse off in the Cups than when they met Saturday and a penalty wasn’t necessary given those circumstances.”
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Hush Writer, who holds a Melbourne Cup entry only, has not been penalised for his win in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on Friday.
Carpenter said: “The Newcastle Cup result was dominated by horses on the limit weight and given the competitive finish and the ratings of the second, third and fourth placegetters it was decided not to issue a penalty to Hush Writer.”
The lightly raced Japanese-bred import remains on the minimum weight of 50kg in the Melbourne Cup and is 87th in the Order of Entry.
Those that have made some progression in the Orders of Entry are the Kris Lees-trained pair Attention Run and Our Candidate who have passed the balloting clause for both Cups with their minor placings in the Newcastle Cup.
With the stablemates allotted the minimum weight of 50kg in both races, Attention Run moves to 92nd in the Caulfield Cup Order of Entry and 93rd in the Melbourne Cup. Our Candidate is now 93rd in the Caulfield Cup and 94th in the Melbourne Cup.
First acceptances for the Caulfield Cup close at 12 noon (AEST) tomorrow, Tuesday, 24 September, while the deadline for the Melbourne Cup first acceptances is 12 noon (AET) on Tuesday, 1 October.
Tomorrow will also see second acceptances taken at 12 noon (AEST) for the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m), $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and $1 million Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Click here to view the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Order of Entry.
Click here to view the Lexus Melbourne Cup Order of Entry.