Melbourne Cup penalty for Fawkner

Melbourne Cup hopeful Fawkner has been penalised 1.5kgs for his win in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield last Saturday and will have to carry 54.5kgs in his attempt to win the Cups double.

Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner penalised 1.5kgs for the Melbourne Cup.

Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner penalised 1.5kgs for the Melbourne Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Fawkner could be one of seven runner’s for owners Lloyd and Nick Williams in the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5 with Nick Williams confident the six year old will run out the 3200m.

“The Melbourne Cup is back on for Fawkner. The way he won the Caulfield Cup ­suggests he can tackle the Melbourne Cup distance,” Nick Williams told the Herald Sun.

Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter had no hesitation in penalising Fawkner 1.5kgs after his clear cut win in the Caulfield Cup.

“Fawkner was strong on the line in the BMW Caulfield Cup at his first run beyond 2040m and has been penalised 1.5kg in the weights for the Emirates Melbourne Cup for his Group 1 victory,” Carpenter said.

“The 1.5kg penalty is the same afforded to Descarado (2010), Master O’Reilly (2007) and Sky Heights (1999) following their wins in the BMW Caulfield Cup. In the last 20 years only Viewed (1kg in 2009) and Dunaden (1kg in 2012) have received lesser penalties.

“On the strength of his win on Saturday I see no reason why Fawkner wouldn’t be very competitive in an Emirates Melbourne Cup with 54.5kg, which is 0.5kg less weight than he carried to victory on Saturday, after weights were raised 1.5kg for that race at final acceptance time.

“Both Fawkner and the Marco Botti-trained runner-up Dandino now have 54.5kg in the Emirates Melbourne Cup with Fawkner meeting Dandino and BMW Caulfield Cup third placegetter Dear Demi 1.5kg worse for having beaten them by 1.25 lengths on Saturday.”

Fawkner’s Melbourne Cup price shortened immediately after winning the Caulfield Cup and is now a $11 chance on the third line of betting with Puissance De Lune behind the Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorente who is the current favourite at $5.50.

While English stayer Dandino put up a mighty performance to come from near the tail of the field to run second to Fawkner and is now the second favourite at $7.

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.