Pinhole and Land Legend secure Cups boosts following Caulfield victories

The chances of Pinhole and Land Legend featuring in this year's Spring Racing Carnival majors in Victoria have received a significant boost following their respective feature race victories at Caulfield on Saturday.

Pinhole secured a coveted ballot exemption into this Saturday’s $6.55 million Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m) with his victory in the Group 2 Sportsbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), as did Land Legend a few hours later following his win in the Group 1 Sportsbet Might And Power (2000m).

Despite their victories, neither horse will be penalised in the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup owing to the respective conditions of Saturday’s races.

Racing Victoria (RV) Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, today confirmed that while Pinhole remains on the minimum weight of 51kg for the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup, the Chris Waller-trained import has received a 2kg weight penalty for the $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The Herbert Power Stakes winner has now passed the first elimination clause for the race that stops a nation and rises from 51kg to 53kg, improving his position from equal 66th to 40th in the order of entry.

“Under the conditions of the Caulfield Cup, the winner of the Herbert Power Stakes cannot be penalised and accordingly Pinhole remains on 51kg while securing a guaranteed start through his ballot exemption,” Hegan said.

“However, all black type races run under non-handicap conditions over 2300 metres or further are eligible for Melbourne Cup penalty consideration and, following an assessment of his performance, Pinhole has been allocated a 2kg penalty.

“Under set weights and penalties conditions he carried 56kg to victory on the weekend, significantly more than he would have carried under handicap conditions. That performance therefore warranted a considerable rating reassessment.

“The 2kg penalty is a reflection of some of the weight relativities he established against a number of potential Melbourne Cup rivals in the race. While it was a narrow victory, he posted the fastest final 200 metres of the race and continues to profile as an emerging staying talent.”

Land Legend also made significant gains in both Cups following his all-the-way victory in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes, in which he lowered the colours of star mare Sheza Alibi in track record time.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding became the seventh horse on the current Sportsbet Caulfield Cup acceptance list to secure a ballot exemption after his weight-for-age success, with the race conditions preventing any reassessment of his allotted weight.

Having not previously satisfied the first elimination clause, Land Legend rockets from 33rd in the order of entry to equal first and is now guaranteed a start in the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup should connections elect to back him up this Saturday. 

“As a weight-for-age winner, Land Legend cannot be penalised for his gutsy Might And Power victory and therefore remains on his allocated weight of 52.5kg for the Caulfield Cup,” Hegan said.

The imported son of sire sensation Galileo also advances sharply in the Lexus Melbourne Cup order of entry despite receiving no penalty for his Group 1 success.

“Land Legend cannot be penalised in the Melbourne Cup for a weight-for-age victory at 2000 metres and remains on 54kg,” Hegan added.

“However, he has significantly enhanced his prospects of securing a start in the Melbourne Cup having now passed the first elimination clause which sees him climb 30 places to 32nd in the order of entry.”

Final acceptances for the Caulfield Cup will be taken at 9am tomorrow – Tuesday, 13 October – with second acceptances for the Melbourne Cup closing shortly thereafter at 12 noon.

To view the updated Sportsbet Caulfield Cup order of entry, please click here.

To view the updated Lexus Melbourne Cup order of entry, please click here.