With some intrigue surrounding the release of Cup weights next Tuesday, Steve argues that it’s time for a complete revamp of the handicaps for the Melbourne Cup
Why is that so certain? Because Racing.com – the media arm of Carpenter’s employer Racing Victoria – more than hinted at it this week.
I look forward to any change and hope that it is the precursor to a radical revamp.
As it is, the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) is not the world’s greatest handicap because it is simply NOT a true handicap.
How a horse can be penalised for wins in minor handicap races and yet escape a hike for winning any number of weight-for-age races is simply absurd.
Let’s make it a true handicap again and I think the solution may well be simple. Make the September announcement the release of ‘provisional’ weights with the ‘final’ weights to be announced in the week before Derby day (then the only clauses required are for races on Derby day).
This allows for ongoing publicity generation, spiced with a hint of anticipation.
Plus, how can you frame a handicap when you essentially disregard – or twist – the form of races for the eight weeks leading into the contest.
“In what could be ground-breaking news for the Melbourne Cup, Racing Victoria (RV) has given the best indication yet that, in future, the Caulfield Cup winner may not face an automatic re-handicap for the Melbourne Cup 17 days later,” reported Racing.com.
“RV’s executive general manager of racing, Greg Carpenter, lamented the lost link between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups on Wednesday and said that he will comment on the topic of the Cups penalty when weights for the one-and-a-half and two-mile handicaps are released on Tuesday.”
I would be concerned about a Caulfield Cup winner being exempt from a penalty but other handicap winners still facing a weight rise.
“There has always been a wonderful link between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup,” Carpenter told Racing.com. “That has been lost a little in the last decade as only one of the last ten Melbourne Cup winners (Viewed in 2008) has run in the Caulfield Cup.
“I’m really keen to re-establish that link and I’ll talk about that on Tuesday when I release the weights.”
Let’s see what happens.
TODAY’S RACING:
The Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill Gardens and the two weight-for-age races at Moonee Valley – the McEwen Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m) and Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) – will hold most attention.
Can the flying filly Houtzen (I Am Invincible) win the McEwen first up, to maintain her unbeaten record on better than heavy ground and engender a sense of relief and expectation for her The Everest (1200m) slot holders Aquis Farm?
Only two three-year-olds have won the McEwen since it was first run in 1996. The most recent was Kuroshio (Exceed And Excel) who scored in 2013. Since then Eloping (Choisir) and Furnaces (Exceed And Excel) have been placed, albeit beaten more than two lengths, when commencing their three-year-old seasons in the Moonee Valley sprint.
Perhaps the most positive lead for Houtzen is that Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) was able to win the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) at the same course and distance later in the month when resuming last year.
With the very quick Heatherly (Lonhro) in the race, I suspect that Craig Williams – on Houtzen – will be content to sit just off her. She may well win but an overnight price of $2.60 looked too short for me.
He’s Our Rokkii (Roc De Cambes) looks a better betting proposition in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes. He too will be favourite, but at a better quote. His first up run in the P B Lawrence Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) was more than sound and the form from that race has already been franked. I’d be happy to back him and also Abbey Marie (Redoute’s Choice) who returned excellent closing splits in the same race.
The Run To The Rose looks a cracking race with Pariah (Redoute’s Choice), Menari (Snitzel) and Chauffeur (Snitzel) each well credentialled. Not to mention the massive ‘whisper’ for Kementari (Lonhro) who resumes for Godolphin.
I’m with Pariah whose four dry track runs have been excellent. The intrigue now is which of these, if any, will go on to claim the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and which, if any, might find a place in The Everest.