2015 Caulfield Cup Weights Released

The 2015 Caulfield Cup weights have been released and Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and Sir Michael Stoute-trained Snow Sky have both been allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms.

Protectionist is set to carry the top weight of 58 kilograms in the 2015 Caulfield Cup. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Protectionist is set to carry the top weight of 58 kilograms in the 2015 Caulfield Cup. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Protectionist carried 56.5 kilograms to victory in the Melbourne Cup last year and he will be forced to carry 1.5 kilograms more than that if connections elect to give him the chance to join Dunaden as the last horse to win the Caulfield Cup after taking out the Melbourne Cup a year earlier.

The Monsun entire failed to fire during his autumn campaign and he suffered an injury when he finished seventh in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, but he has impressed trainer Kris Lees with his trackwork this preparation and he will return to the races in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) this weekend.

Snow Sky is no certainty to make the trip to Australia for either the Caulfield Cup or the Melbourne Cup, but he will add a touch of class to both races if owners Juddmonte elect to take up the challenge after being allocated 58 kilograms.

The talented stayer finished third behind Kingston Hill and Romsdal in the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (2937m) last year and he started his 2015 racing season with wins in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) at York on May 15 and the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) during the Royal Ascot Meeting before he failed to fire in the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2414m) at Ascot on July 25.

Criterion has been allocated 57.5 kilograms by Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter, but the triple Group 1 winner is very unlikely to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

The Sebring entire will return to Australia with the first planeload of international 2015 Spring Racing Carnival contenders and he is set to return to the races in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 11 before he has another crack at the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

Japanese stayer Fame Game is set to make the trip to Australia for both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup and he has been allocated 57 kilograms by Racing Victoria handicappers.

Fame Game took out the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) in February – a race that has been previously taken out by 2014 Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti – and he finished a close second behind Gold Ship in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) at Kyoto on May 3.

Four-year-olds have an excellent record in the Caulfield Cup and a number of talented stayers have been handicapped well enough to be all but certain of a place in the field for the Group 1 event.

New Zealand and Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan has been allocated 55 kilograms and will be giving weight to the likes of Kermadec (54kg), Preferment (53.5kg), Hauraki (53kg), Gust Of Wind (51kg), Set Square (51kg) and Winx (50.5kg).

Other key 2015 Melbourne Cup weights include Contributer (57kg), Our Ivanhowe (56kg), Hartnell (55.5kg), Pornichet (55kg), Red Cadeaux (55kg), Trip To Paris (55kg), Gallante (53.5kg), Lucia Valentina (53kg), Dandino (52.5kg) and Alpine Eagle (52kg).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.