The weights for the Gr.1 Caulfield (2400m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cups (3200m) were released on Tuesday, with reigning Melbourne Cup champion Twilight Payment (Teofilo) allotted 58kgs to head the weights for the two-mile feature with Irish St Leger (2800m) winner Sonnyboyliston (Power).
The duo are both unlikely starters in the Melbourne Cup, with the Flemington showpiece attracting 124 nominated horses.
Kiwi bred star Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) was allotted 57kgs for the Melbourne Cup, a race that is likely on her radar after a tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m).
New Zealand-trained runners The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) (54kgs), Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) (53.5kgs), Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park) (53.5kgs) and Quick Thinker (So You Think) (53kgs) are all on-track to gain a Melbourne Cup start, should they elect to go there.
There are 26 New Zealand bred nominations in the Melbourne Cup, including include the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) (54kgs), who burst on the scene winning three Derbys in Australia last season.
Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) hero Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Kukeracha (NZ) (Night of Thunder), who were part of the clean-sweep of Derbys by New Zealand bred horses across the Tasman last season, have been allotted 53kgs respectively in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The talking point of the weights release was the allocation of 55.5kgs in both Cups to last Saturday’s Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) winner Incentivise (Shamus Award), with the progressive Peter Moody-trained stayer likely to have incurred a couple of kilos for that win.
Last year’s Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) will be asked to carry the topweight of 58kg should he choose to contest the Caulfield Cup.
