The 2015 Sydney Cup weights have been released and 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist has been allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms for the Group 1 event.
2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist has been allocated the top weight for the 2015 Sydney Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Protectionist remains in the entries for the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on April 11, but is unlikely to contest the race and is likely to contest the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday, the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
John Moore-trained Dominant and veteran stayer Red Cadeaux have both been allocated 56.5 kilograms, but will likely be bumped up to the top weight of 58 kilograms if Protectionist does not take his place in the field.
Dominant is set to make the trip to Australia after Canterbury was approved as a quarantine centre and he is likely to remain in Sydney under the care of Gary Moore ahead of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Cacique entire defeated the likes of The Fugue, Red Cadeaux and Dunaden to win the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), but he has been unable to replicate that form since, although he was far from disgraced when third behind Designs On Rome in The Centenary Vase (1800m) at Sha Tin on February 7.
Red Cadeaux is already in Australia preparing for the Australian Cup and the triple Melbourne Cup placegetter is then set to make the trip to New South Wales for the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) and the Sydney Cup.
Rising Romance is yet to make the step-up to 3200 metres during her racing career to date, but she was included in the Sydney Cup nominations and was allocated 53.5 kilograms by Racing New South Wales handicappers.
The Ekraar mare was only narrowly denied a win in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) by Admire Rakti, but trainer Donna Logan had not included the four-year-old in the Melbourne Cup nominations and she instead dropped back in trip to run in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
Chris Waller won the 2011 edition of the Sydney Cup with Stand To Gain and has the potential to have a number of runners in the field after Beaten Up (55kg), Junoob (54.5), Who Shot Thebarman (54.5kg), Opinion (52.5kg) and Our Voodoo Prince (52kg) were all allocated handicaps that should see them make the final field.
Other key Sydney Cup handicaps included 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon (54.5kg), Zipping Classic winner Au Revoir (54kg), imported stayer Royal Diamond (54kg), Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Le Roi (52.5kg) and Gai Waterhouse-trained Greatwood (52kg).
