Sunday win had no effect on Order Of St George Melbourne Cup weight

Darryl Sherer - Wednesday September 13

Sunday's Irish St Leger win did not impact upon Order Of St George's weight in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

Greg Carpenter with the 2017 Melbourne Cup trophy. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Raving Victoria Handicapper Greg Carpenter said the nine length win by Order Of St George over Torcedor did not change his last thought on the weight but confirmed to him 58kg was correct.

"I certainly wasn't locked in to 58kg but when I looked at the rating of Torcedor and Mount Moriah who ran third - they were rated 110 and 106 respectively so if they have run to their very best the rating is correct.

"It's not a case of looking at the margin and saying he (Order Of St George) has to be higher.

"To a point, the differential between Order Of St George and Torcedor in the Irish St Leger was virtually the same as in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot."

Over the past four decades, 35 horses have carried 58kg or more in a Melbourne Cup with only Makybe Diva winning with 58kg in 2005.

Carpenter also drew comparison with previous European Group I winners running in the Melbourne Cup.

"We've seen a champion like Yeats come to the Melbourne Cup and run bravely and not win, a multiple Irish St Leger winner like Vinnie Roe who was arguably unlucky to come up against Makybe Diva," Carpenter said.

"It is a challenge to win the Melbourne Cup with 58kg and we know the only horse that's done it is Makybe Diva.

"With a horse like Order Of St George, he's won three Group Is - if you were talking about an Arc winner or a horse that's won multiple Group I races as Yeats did then 58kg is not the ceiling but you have to be realistic.

"It is the third year he (Order Of St George) has been entered and I would be bitterly disappointed if connections did not accept the challenge of competing in the world's best 3200m race at Flemington."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Bella Now Second Highest Ever Australian Stakes Earner
Seven year-old Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina bounced out of her Everest win two weeks ago to claim another lucrative prize when scoring a scintillating victory in the $3million ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.