Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2400m) winner Sayedaty Sadaty now needs just one horse above him in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry to withdraw or not accept to secure a start in Tuesday’s race at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has not received a weight penalty for his one-length Bendigo Cup victory, with Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, confirming on Thursday that Sayedaty Sadaty will remain on the Melbourne Cup minimum of 51kg.
However, the horse’s rating has been lifted, and the additional $300,000 prizemoney he earned from the Bendigo Cup has resulted in Sayedaty Sadaty jumping from 35th to 25th in the Order of Entry.
“Sayedaty Sadaty was aided by a perfect ride from Harry Coffey but ultimately was too strong for his rivals and won going away at the post to claim the Bendigo Cup,” Hegan said.
“The performance does not warrant a weight penalty like it did for Sea King last year when he was lifted 0.5kg above the minimum, but Sayedaty Sadaty’s win does warrant an adjustment to his handicap profile, which results in his elevation up the order.
“He has been moved up to a true weight of 50.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, which is 9kg below the weight-for-age benchmark, but with the weight scale lifted by 1kg this year he will carry the minimum of 51kg, on which he was already handicapped.”
Sayedaty Sadaty has now moved ahead of the Chris Waller-trained Birdman, who sits 26th in the Order of Entry following Thursday morning’s withdrawal of Mark Twain. Last year’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality winner was removed after finishing ninth in the Bendigo Cup, while runner-up Quietness has also been withdrawn by connections.
