Two of last weekend’s Group 3 winners will have to carry 1.5kg more than initially allocated in this year’s major Cups races after being issued penalties by Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan.
Friday’s Newcastle Cup (2300m) winner Durston and Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) winner Smokin’ Romans were both allocated 1.5kg penalties for both the $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) and $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The two stayers will now carry 51.5kg each if they contest either race.
“Both Smokin’ Romans and Durston were impressive in their victories and are progressive stayers who are hitting peak form at the right time of year,” Hegan said.
“The penalty of 1.5kg afforded to each horse primarily considers their weight in the Cups in relation to those horses they defeated across the weekend and who are entitled to some relief in the future.
“In addition, we also needed to consider the unique nature of this year’s weight structure in both Cups in the absence of a natural topweight and how those horses handicapped off the limit weight have 1kg more than a traditional scale as a result.
“These penalties are greater than that afforded to the winners of these races in recent years, however they are reflective of a unique weight scale for the 2022 Cups.”
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans is now exempt from the ballot in the Caulfield Cup, while he has been elevated to No 36 in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.
That is two spots higher than Durston, who passed the first elimination clause in the Melbourne Cup with his win at Newcastle.
The Chris Waller-trained import is No 43 in order of a start in the Caulfield Cup.
Second acceptances for this year’s Melbourne Cup and Caulfield will be taken on Tuesday.
