2016 Caulfield Cup fancy Order Of St George will struggle with 58kg

History says that equal top weight Order Of St George will struggle under the 58kg he was allocated in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15.

The United States, above, is one of the favourites for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The United States, above, is one of the favourites for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Prominent owner Lloyd Williams who races Order Of St George with Coolmore backers Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier and Derrick Smith was disappointed to learn that Order Of St George has received 58kg to be the equal top weight with stablemate Highland Reel and said that it makes his task of winning the Caulfield Cup very difficult.

Williams also envisages the Aidan O’Brien trained stayer getting a similar weight for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1 which would also make it very hard for Williams to add another Melbourne Cup trophy to the four already sitting in his trophy cabinet

Order Of St George has two Group 1 wins included in his record of seven wins from twelve starts and has been weighted up to his best following victories in the 2015 Group 1 €350,000 Palmerston House Estate Irish St. Leger (2816m) at the Curragh and in the Group 1 £400,000 Gold Cup (2 mile 4 furlong) at Royal Ascot in June this year.

“I don’t think Gold Cup and Irish St Leger form is worth 58 kilograms,” Williams told racing.com.

“History says to me and I have been around the Melbourne Cup for fifty years, that most horses struggle with that weight. Some can run a place but very rarely do they win.”

“The only horse in the last thirty years to win with a weight like that was Makybe Diva and she was capable of winning three in a row and was a champion.”

Williams also shares in the ownership of the O’Brien trained Bondi Beach who has been handicapped with 55kg for the Caulfield Cup.

Williams’ Australian trained Caulfield Cup nominations are prepared by Robert Hickmott at Macedon Lodge and Group 1 winning The United States with 55.5kg heads the eleven locally trained contingent.

The United States is set to kick off his 2016 Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley and has drawn barrier eight with Katelyn Mallyon in the saddle.

The Irish import struck a purple patch during the Sydney Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill followed by a second to Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

The first acceptances for the Caulfield Cup are due at 12 noon on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 and the final field will be declared at 10am on Tuesday October 11, 2016.

Early market order for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $15 Tarzino, The United States, $17 Highland Reel, Our Ivanhowe, Tavago, $21 Hartnell, Jameka, Provocative, Rising Romance, Scottish, Trip To Paris, $26 Bondi Beach, Hauraki, Idaho, Preferment, Signoff, Sofia Rosa, Tom Melbourne, $31 Order Of St George.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.