Racing Victoria’s (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, has elected not to issue a cup weight penalty to either Captain Cook or Valac, who were both victorious in staying races over the long weekend.
The Chris Waller-trained Captain Cook took out the Group 3 Ladbrokes JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on Friday night under a strong ride from Linda Meech. It was the British import’s first win on Australian soil and he remains on 50.5kg for the $5 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m), but has moved up from 64th place to 57th on the revised Order of Entry having satisfied the ballot clause.
“Captain Cook won the JRA Cup by the narrowest of margins in a driving finish with Sully,” said Carpenter.
“The race was dominated by horses on the minimum weight, with Mosh Music close up in third position, and with the narrow margin it was decided not to issue a Caulfield Cup penalty to Captain Cook, who is not entered for the Melbourne Cup.”
In contrast, the Lindsay Park-trained Valac only holds an entry for the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), having dropped out of the Caulfield Cup at the first acceptances stage last week.
After winning the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington on Saturday, Valac remains on 50kg and in 88th place in the Order of Entry for ‘the race that stops a nation’, held at Flemington on Tuesday, 5 November.
“Valac won the Ansett Classic on the minimum weight and, given the ratings of the placegetters he defeated and the overall strength of the race, it was decided not to impose a penalty for the Melbourne Cup,” said Carpenter.
Stampede, the winner of Saturday’s Group 3 JRA Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), does not hold entries for either cup; whilst Black Hart Bart, the winner of the ballot-exempt Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield yesterday, is also not entered for the Caulfield Cup.
The updated Order of Entry for the Caulfield Cup can be viewed here
First acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken at 12pm tomorrow.