The Bart Cummings winner Persan has been penalised 1kg in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup taking him from the limit weight of 50kg to 51kg in both feature staying handicaps.
The Bart Cummings is a ballot exempt race for the 2020 Melbourne Cup and as such Persan now joins The Andrew Ramsden winner Oceanex as the horses guaranteed a start in Australia’s iconic race on 3 November at Flemington.
“Persan is an emerging young stayer who has now been placed in all 10 starts for the Maher-Eustace stable. He accounted for a strong field in winning The Bart Cummings on Saturday in a performance that warrants him being lifted off the limit weight in both cups.
“Persan is now exempt from the ballot in the Melbourne Cup and the 1kg penalty in the Caulfield Cup advances him to 51st in the order of entry for that race ahead of second acceptances closing at 12 noon tomorrow.
“The 1kg penalty is the same one given to Almandin when he completed The Bart Cummings – Melbourne Cup double in 2016 and to last year’s The Bart Cummings winner Surprise Baby who went on to run fifth in the Melbourne Cup.” Greg Carpenter said.
