Big Memory receives penalty; Lidari sweating on Caulfield Cup spot; Select field for Blue Sapphire; Renew to bypass Melbourne Cup.
Big Memory receives penalty
Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, has today announced that Big Memory has been re-handicapped to 52.5kg in next month’s $6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The weight includes a 2kg penalty issued today to the Tony McEvoy-trained French import for his win in Saturday’s Group 2 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.
Under the conditions of the Herbert Power, the five-year-old gelding was unable to be re-handicapped in Saturday’s $3 million Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) – a race for which he is now guaranteed a start.
My Ambivalent in race against time
Talented UK mare My Ambivalent is in a race against time to recover from a slight “hiccup” ahead of Saturday’s $3 million Group 1 Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Racing Victoria (RV) vets will continue to monitor the Roger Varian-trained mare after connections reported that she had sustained a stone bruise to her off-fore foot and had missed light work on Sunday and Monday.
Lidari sweating on Caulfield Cup spot
Connections of Lidari and Brambles are sweating on tomorrow’s veterinary inspection of My Ambivalent in the hope of gaining a position in Saturday’s $3 million Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The Peter Moody-trained pair will likely fill the first two emergencies in Saturday’s Group 1 feature following the release of the latest order of entry.
Lidari currently occupies 25th position in the ballot order with Brambles in 26th however with Foreteller, Silent Achiever, Kirramosa, Setorius, He’s Your Man and Sangster all out of the race, they come into 19th and 20th position, with the David Hayes-trained Stipulate currently holding the final spot in the field of 18.
Select field for Blue Sapphire
Some of the fastest young sprinters in the country will vie for $250,000 prize money in Wednesday’s Listed Catanach Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Just seven three-year-olds have accepted for the race including the Patrick Payne-trained Husson Eagle, who was a last-start winner over 1100-metres at Bendigo, the Doug Harrison-trained Tudor, a last-start winner at Moonee Valley over the same distance and the Peter Morgan/Craig Widdison-trained Eloping, a last-start winner of the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.
Quality entries for Cup supports card
An exciting list of nominations has been assembled for the $200,000 Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (1400m), one of a number of quality support races on Saturday’s Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup Day program.
Gai Waterhouse-trained stars Sweet Idea and Diamond Drille head the list of 19 entries, which also include Catkins, May’s Dream and Politeness.
Waterhouse is also prominent in the second of the Group 2s on the card, with Sportingbet Classic (1200m) winner Driefontein heading 22 nominations in the $200,000 Perri Cutten Sprint (1100m).
No Manikato for Earthquake
Earthquake will be kept to her own age and won’t tackle the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Trainer John O’Shea had mentioned the race as a possible next target after the three-year-old bounced back to winning form in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Renew to bypass Melbourne Cup
European stayer Renew will no longer head towards the $6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) but instead will look to a tilt at the Listed Sportingbet Sandown Cup (3200m) 11 days later.
OTI director Terry Henderson said the five-year-old would leave the International Quarantine Centre at Werribee on Monday for a temporary stay with Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander before moving to Chris Waller.
Suroor still to determine Cup jockeys
Saeed bin Suroor will make a late decision on jockey bookings for both Cavalryman and Willing Foe after the Godolphin pair pleased when completing their major work schedule for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
The duo were put through their paces in Newmarket last Thursday, shortly before embarking on the long journey to Australia, and will bid to provide Godolphin with a first win in the Cup on November 4.
