Racing Victoria (RV) Head of Handicapping David Hegan has announced weight penalties in the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m) and/or Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) for Ceolwulf, Just Fine and Land Legend after their feature race triumphs on Saturday, 5 October.
Ceolwulf
Ceolwulf has been handed a 1.5kg penalty for the Caulfield Cup after winning his first Group 1 race in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, thus taking his weight from 52kg to 53.5kg.
The Joe Pride-trained four-year-old, who was not nominated for the Melbourne Cup has moved from 13th to seventh in the Order of Entry for Caulfield Cup.
“Ceolwulf produced a dominant performance on the weekend to win his maiden Group 1 after placing in the ATC Derby and Rosehill Guineas earlier in the year,” Hegan said.
“This penalty now brings him equal with fellow four-year-old Warmonger on 53.5kg and whilst it’s unclear whether he’ll take his place in the field, I’m certain he can be highly competitive if he does.”
Just Fine
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding Just Fine has received a penalty of 0.5kg after his tight victory in the Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington and is now weighted at 53kg.
The win rocketed the seven-year-old, who boasts hundreds of owners through Mi-Racehorse Syndications, from 20th to equal first place in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry.
In the Caulfield Cup, Just Fine has moved up only marginally from 22nd to 20th and is now at the same weight as he was 12 months ago after receiving 0.5kg for his victory in the 2023 Metropolitan (2400m).
“Just Fine’s win was only a narrow one over The Archer winner Point King, so I was very mindful of the relativity to that horse when considering his revised weight for the Cups,” Hegan said.
“Just Fine, carried 1.5kg more than Point King in The Bart Cummings and was already weighted with 2kg more than him in the Melbourne Cup. With the 0.5kg penalty he’ll now carry 2.5kg more than Point King in the Melbourne Cup which is effectively a 1kg difference from Saturday.
“The 0.5kg penalty is the same one that was handed to another seven-year-old in Lunar Flare after she won The Bart Cummings in 2022.”
Land Legend
Land Legend has received a weight penalty of 1kg after claiming his first Group 1 title in the Metropolitan at Randwick, taking his weight in both Cups from 52kg to 53kg.
As a result, his position in the Caulfield Cup Order of Entry has improved from equal 50th to 21st, whilst he has leapt from equal 53rd to 20th in the Melbourne Cup where he is now assured of a start.
“Land Legend’s performance in the Metropolitan was most impressive, drawing away from the rest of the pack with runner-up, VRC Oaks winner Zardozi,” Hegan said of the Chris Waller-trained stayer.
“Whilst it was only the narrowest of margins, it was a performance that was worthy of a penalty from a horse that was only third-up from almost a year off the scene.
“The 1kg penalty is the same that was afforded to No Compromise (2022) and Montefilia (2021) after their respective victories in the Metropolitan.”
Orders of Entry
Outside of those horses penalised, there were some other notable movers in the Order of Entry for the $5 million Caulfield Cup, to be run on 19 October, after the weekend’s feature racing.
Via Sistina (Chris Waller) has moved from fourth to equal first and is now exempt from the ballot after winning the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, although it remains to be seen whether she will head towards the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) a week later instead.
Royal Patronage (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott) placed in the Epsom Handicap and so has moved from 49th to 15th after passing the first ballot clause. He remains on 53.5kg.
Unusual Legacy (Chris Waller) has also moved up in the order from 55th to 45th after coming third in the Metropolitan. He remains on the limit weight of 50kg.
With third acceptances for the Caulfield Cup to be taken at 12 noon (AEDT) tomorrow (Tuesday, 8 October), the Order of Entry will be updated once again following that milestone.
Click here to view the updated Caulfield Cup Order of Entry (as at 7 October 2024)
In the Order of Entry for the $8.4 million Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington 4 November, Eliyass (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott) passed the ballot with his Turnbull Stakes placing and thus moved from 52nd to 21st.
Unusual Legacy’s minor placing in the Metropolitan was also favourable to connections’ hopes of gaining a start in the Melbourne Cup with the horse passing the ballot clause. Accordingly, he’s moved from equal 57th to 48th.
Second acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken at 12 noon (AEDT) on Tuesday, 15 October.
Click here to view the updated Melbourne Cup Order of Entry (as at 7 October 2024)