Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Americain was not among the third declarations on Tuesday for this year’s Caulfield Cup.
Americain’s absence from the Caulfield Cup, in which he had 58kg topweight, means weights for the $2.5 million handicap on October 15 will be raised, paving the way for jockey Michael Rodd to continue his association with the favourite December Draw.
December Draw tightened his grip on Caulfield Cup betting by winning the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Sunday.
Rodd would not have been able to get down to 52kg to ride December Draw in the Caulfield Cup but can ride him now that Americain has been withdrawn, with weights to be raised at least two kilograms.
Americain is expected to have one lead-up race in Victoria ahead of his Melbourne Cup defence.
AAP TURF
