Royal Supremacy’s Group 1 Metropolitan triumph at Randwick has triggered a 1.5kg penalty for the Caulfield Cup, lifting his allotted weight to 52.5kg and moving him to 26th in the order of entry.
As it stands, 49 horses remain in contention for the $5 million Caulfield Cup, a number set to contract on Tuesday when third declarations are taken. The final field will comprise 18 starters plus four emergencies.
Both Royal Supremacy and Valiant King also hold nominations for the $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m), with Valiant King securing the fourth live ‘Golden Ticket’ courtesy of his victory in The Bart Cummings, joining Parchment Party, Deakin and Revelare.
“It was an easy win for Royal Supremacy on Saturday, he moved into the race effortlessly at the top of the straight and was too strong through the line for his rivals,” said Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan.
“As a result, he was worthy of a reassessment and takes a 1.5kg Caulfield Cup penalty to rise off the limit of 51kg to 52.5kg while moving up seven spots to 26th in the order of entry.
“This places him one spot in the order behind Birdman who carried 1.5kg more than Royal Supremacy in the Metropolitan, but would meet him on level weight terms for that 2.6 length defeat.
“In the Bart Cummings, off the very strong pace set by Gilded Water, many were found wanting in the latter stages of the race but Valiant King was the exception, barnstorming from the back of the field to win by an expanding 2.75 lengths on the line.
“His runaway victory earns him a 1kg Caulfield Cup penalty off the limit of 51kg to 52kg while moving up 10 spots to 27th in the order of entry.
“Neither horse takes a weight penalty for the Melbourne Cup and while Valiant King secured ballot exemption on Saturday, Royal Supremacy does progress up the order nine places from 41st to 32nd given that he is now 9kg below the weight-for-age benchmark for an older male.
“Both horse’s true Melbourne Cup weights based on handicap form would now be 50.5kg and 50.0kg respectively, however with the minimum lifted to 51kg this year they were already handicapped on the limit weight and thus their weight won’t change.
“This takes into account the fact that Caulfield Cup weights are two kilograms higher than Melbourne Cup weights this year due to the topweights (Via Sistina and Al Riffa).”
Placegetters from The Bart Cummings—Torranzino (second) and Gilded Water (third)—also strengthened their bids to make the Melbourne Cup, passing the first elimination clause and rising to 48th and 50th respectively in the current order.
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