Zahrann has received a 0.5kg penalty for his Naturalism Stakes victory, lifting the Ciaron Maher-trained import to 53kg for the $6.55 million Caulfield Cup.
The five-year-old has also been raised to 54.5kg for the $10.2 million Melbourne Cup, where he has moved up one position to 38th in the order of entry.
Zahrann is now the outright $5 favourite for the Caulfield Cup and shares $11 favouritism for the Melbourne Cup with Joseph O’Brien-trained Defiantly.
The imported galloper secured a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup when defeating stablemate Saint George by one length in Saturday’s Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
Zahrann joins Birdman, Enfjaar, Royal Supremacy and Kings Valley as the five horses currently holding exemptions for the Caulfield Cup.
Racing Victoria Head of Handicapping David Hegan said the 0.5kg increase took into account both Zahrann’s career-best Australian performance and his previous European form.
“The 0.5kg penalty means he will meet the horses he defeated on Saturday between 2kg and 3kg worse off in both Cups,” Hegan said.
Saint George’s runner-up finish allowed him to satisfy the Caulfield Cup’s first elimination clause, moving him from equal 95th to 42nd in the order of entry. His weight remains unchanged at 53.5kg.
Kingston Town Stakes winner The Euphrates improved from equal 99th to 51st in the Caulfield Cup order but remains on 52.5kg, with the race having been conducted under set-weights-and-penalties conditions.
Neither Saint George nor The Euphrates has yet satisfied the Melbourne Cup’s first elimination clause.
Aethelwulf also improved his Melbourne Cup position following his Newcastle Gold Cup victory, moving from 83rd to 64th without receiving a weight penalty.
Second acceptances for the Caulfield Cup close at noon on Tuesday, while first acceptances for the Melbourne Cup are due on September 29.
