High profile stayers Green Moon and Sea Moon have been announced as equal topweights for the Sydney Cup with 59kg but neither will start in the 3200m race on April 27.
Weights will need to be raised at least one kilogram to meet the requirement for a 58kg topweight with Auckland Cup winner Sangster on 57kg in the handicaps released on Monday.
Green Moon won the Melbourne Cup in the spring while his Lloyd Williams-owned stablemate Sea Moon has yet to race in Australia.
New Zealander Sangster, winner of the 2011 Victoria Derby, has returned to form this season winning the Group One International at Te Rapa before the Auckland Cup.
Sangster finished midfield in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes won by Foreteller from Fiveandahalfstar, neither of whom are in the Sydney Cup.
It’s A Dundeel has 54kg and is the $7 equal favourite with Maluckyday (54.5kg) for the Cup but his stated aim is the Australian Derby two weeks earlier.
Maluckyday, who finished second to Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup, put in his best run since then when he was an eye-catching third in the Ranvet, coming from last on the home turn.
His stablemate Niwot, trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, will carry 55.5kg in his defence of the Sydney Cup, 1.5kg more than he was given before weights were raised last year.
Sangster is the third favourite at $9 for the Cup with Maluckyday with Julienas and Kelinni at $11 and Niwot a $13 chance.
At his first start since the spring, Julienas won Saturday’s Sky High Stakes from Lunayir and Le Roi, both of whom are on the 52kg limit for the Cup while Julienas has 53.5kg.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Julienas has been entered for Saturday’s Listed Manion Cup (2400m) which features several other Sydney Cup aspirants including Pelicano, Permit, Shadows In The Sun and Tac De Boistron.
Imported French horse Prince Cheri will not continue with his Sydney Cup campaign after being found to have shin soreness late last week.
