The Melbourne Cup 2016 weights were announced on Tuesday morning by Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter who has allocated Irish galloper Order Of St George and the 2014 winner Protectionist as equal top-weights.
2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist is equal 58kg top weight for the 2016 edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’. Photo: Steve Hart.
In late August the $6 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), run as Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 1, received a bumper 123 nominations.
All Melbourne Cup nominees have now received their handicaps including the Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of St George and Andreas Wohler’s German raider Protectionist with 58kg.
The last Melbourne Cup winner to carry that weight to victory was superstar mare Makybe Diva for her third win in the ‘race that stops a nation’ back in 2005; the only one of 35 horses in the last four decades to cart 58kg in the race successfully.
2016 Melbourne Cup Weights
- Top Weights: Order Of St George (58kg) and Protectionist (58kg)
- Followed By: Prince Of Penzance (56.5kg) and Preferment (56.5kg)
- Key 4YO Weights: Tavago (54kg), Tarzino (54kg), Jameka (51.5kg), Provocative (50.5kg
- Notable Local Weights: Prince Of Penzance (56.5kg), Our Ivanhowe (56kg), The United States (55.5kg), Hartnell (55kg)
- Notable International Weights: Idaho (53kg), Big Orange (56kg), Erupt (56kg), Wicklow Brave (55kg)
The hoodoo for this year’s original top-weights is even more imposing however, with no original Melbourne Cup top weight winning the race since Comic Court (1950; 59.5kg).
“There have been 23 original top-weights contest the Melbourne Cup since Comic Court’s win in 1950 and none have placed, so Order Of St George and Protectionist would rightfully earn their place among the Cup’s true greats if they were to be successful,” Carpenter said on Tuesday.
“The handicap presents a challenge to both Order of St George and Protectionist, however they have earned their position at the head of the weights based on their performances over the past 12 months.”
Winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, Order Of St George also heads the 2016 Caulfield Cup weights with the same kilos for the earlier October 15 showdown during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
He is part-owned by Australian businessman Lloyd Williams who is a four-time Melbourne Cup winning owner.
Williams has been sceptical about the chances of Order Of St George to hand him a fifth if he is weighted too heavily, the last start Irish St Leger runner-up in doubt of a trip down under for the world’s richest handicap.
“Order of St George was a dominant winner of last year’s Irish St Leger by 11 lengths, and also won the Ascot Gold Cup at Royal Ascot earlier this year with ease,” Carpenter said.
He is at the head of the weights despite being beaten in a shock result in this year’s Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday.”
Fellow 58kg Melbourne Cup top weight in 2016, Protectionist travelled down under two season’s back and took out the 2014 edition of the race.
He stayed on in Australia under the care of Kris Lees for stint before returning to and Wohler’s care, the now seven-year-old Monsun stallion back to his best.
The stayer has won his past three starts on the trot including carrying 60kg to victory in the Group 1 Von Berlin (2400m) in mid-August.
“There has not been a more impressive winner of the Melbourne Cup in recent years than Protectionist when he took out the 2014 edition,” Carpenter declared.
“He has returned to that form in winning his last three starts on-end for Andreas Wohler including the Grosser Preis von Berlin.”
Order Of St George pays $21 in futures Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, while Protectionist is at $26 to win the classic for a second time after the four length romp with 56.5kg two years ago.
The next heaviest weighted on 56.5kg are the Darren Weir-trained defending Melbourne Cup champion Prince Of Penzance and the Chris Waller-trained Preferment.
Prince Of Penzance won the Melbourne Cup last November as a $101 roughie under 57kg and currently pays $31 to score another upset for Weir.
Waller’s Zabeel stallion meanwhile finished at the back of the Melbourne Cup field (20th of 24 runners), but has subsequently raced in Hong Kong and won the Australian Cup in Melbourne and Sydney’s The BMW.
The other most notable international Melbourne Cup weight is the Michael Bell-trained English raider Big Orange.
Big Orange occupies the second line of the markets at $19 following his recent good form in the UK including the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3219m) win over the two miles in late July.
The son of Duke Of Marmalade raced in last year’s Melbourne Cup field and finished a brave fifth only 2.4 lengths off Prince Of Penzance as a $61 hope.
The $17 co-favourites in the all-in Melbourne Cup odds currently are Signoff and The United States, allocated 53.5kg and 55.5kg respectively.
Last year’s winning trainer Weir prepares Authorized seven-year-old Signoff who ran fourth to Protectionist in the 2014 Melbourne Cup.
The Robert Hickmott-trained The United States shapes up as owner Williams’ best hope of adding another ‘Loving Trophy’ to the cabinet, the Galileo stallion out to improve on his 14th in last year’s race.
A host of exciting four-year-olds are in the mix looking to become the first of that age group to win since Shocking (2009) including Ciaron Maher’s Crown Oaks winner last spring Jameka (51.5kg) and last year’s VRC Derby champ Tarzino (54kg).
Japanese raider Curren Mirotic meanwhile has received 55.5kg in his bid to win for his country for the first time since Delta Blues and Pop Rock ran the Melbourne Cup quinella in 2006.
Check out the full Melbourne Cup 2016 weights below, the first acceptances due out on October 4, before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the best all-in odds.
2016 Melbourne Cup Weights & Ballot
Flemington Race 7 – 01/11/2016
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2111x11x12 | ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien | 1 | 58kg | 1.5 |
| 2 | x0800x111x | PROTECTIONIST (GER) | H | 7 | Andreas Wohler | 2 | 58kg | 1.5 |
| 3 | 14x23321L | IDAHO (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 3 | 53kg | 2.5 |
| 4 | 55821x2x06 | PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 4 | 56.5kg | 3 |
| 5 | 907x4110x4 | PREFERMENT (NZ) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | 5 | 56.5kg | 3 |
| 6 | 7x5x23x11x | BIG ORANGE (GB) | G | 6 | Michael Bell | 6 | 56kg | 3.5 |
| 7 | x456x9253x | ERUPT (IRE) | H | 5 | Francis-Henri Graffard | 7 | 56kg | 3.5 |
| 8 | 230x5501x5 | OUR IVANHOWE (GER) | H | 7 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 8 | 56kg | 3.5 |
| 9 | 6x300x620x | CURREN MIROTIC (JPN) | G | 9 | Osamu Hirata | 9 | 55.5kg | 4 |
| 10 | 2113061×0 | TAVAGO (NZ) | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 10 | 54kg | 4 |
| 11 | 31x4214x80 | TARZINO (NZ) | H | 4 | Mick Price | 11 | 54kg | 4 |
| 12 | 610x5212x6 | THE UNITED STATES (IRE) | H | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 12 | 55.5kg | 4 |
| 13 | 1631511×11 | DA BIG HOSS (USA) | H | 6 | Michael J Maker | 13 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 14 | x4650x5x21 | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 14 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 15 | 1x90324x65 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 15 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 16 | 3333×26431 | WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) | G | 8 | William Mullins | 16 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 17 | 1220x11x33 | BONDI BEACH (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien | 17 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 18 | 1413x1835x | EXOSPHERE (GB) | H | 5 | Sir Michael Stoute | 18 | 55kg | 4.5 |
| 19 | 1x45324x47 | JAMEKA | M | 4 | Ciaron Maher | 19 | 51.5kg | 5 |
| 20 | 2251x3121x | SCOTTISH (IRE) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | 20 | 54.5kg | 5 |
| 21 | 135240×343 | TRIP TO PARIS (IRE) | G | 6 | Ed Dunlop | 21 | 54kg | 5.5 |
| 22 | 8x332722x1 | HAURAKI | G | 5 | John O’Shea | 22 | 54kg | 5.5 |
| 23 | x05x26x34x | MANATEE (GB) | H | 6 | John O’Shea | 23 | 54kg | 5.5 |
| 24 | 5x11113x02 | TALLY | H | 4 | John O’Shea | 24 | 52.5kg | 5.5 |
| 25 | x063540x27 | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | M | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 25 | 52.5kg | 5.5 |
| 26 | 3x08533x72 | GRAND MARSHAL (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 26 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 27 | x0069x031x | GALLANTE (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 27 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 28 | 2314x797x3 | STORM THE STARS (USA) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | 28 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 29 | 8046x000x9 | GUST OF WIND (NZ) | M | 5 | John Sargent | 29 | 52kg | 6 |
| 30 | 01x9065x8x | ALMOONQITH (USA) | H | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 30 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 31 | 5×21344123 | HOUSESOFPARLIAMENT (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 31 | 50kg | 6 |
| 32 | 416x411x0x | PROVOCATIVE (NZ) | M | 4 | Tony Pike | 32 | 50.5kg | 6 |
| 33 | 4x8xD21x00 | SIGNOFF (IRE) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 33 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 34 | 00x101x11x | HEARTBREAK CITY (FR) | G | 7 | Tony Martin | 34 | 53kg | 6.5 |
| 35 | 12111134×0 | HOWARD BE THY NAME | H | 4 | Darren Weir | 35 | 51.5kg | 6.5 |
| 36 | x6153x155x | BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB) | M | 5 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 36 | 51.5kg | 6.5 |
| 37 | 33132114×2 | REAL LOVE | M | 6 | Darren Weir | 37 | 51.5kg | 6.5 |
| 38 | 447204x77x | SPIRITJIM (FR) | H | 7 | Chris Waller | 38 | 53kg | 6.5 |
| 39 | 72217x20x9 | EXCESS KNOWLEDGE (GB) | H | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 39 | 52.5kg | 7 |
| 40 | 3×2131155 | SWORD FIGHTER (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 40 | 50kg | 7 |
| 41 | xD1x1x20x3 | SKY HUNTER (GB) | G | 7 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 41 | 52.5kg | 7 |
| 42 | x13057741x | FANATIC (NZ) | M | 4 | Graeme Sanders | 42 | 50kg | 7 |
| 43 | 212x1322x2 | SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) | G | 8 | John P Thompson | 43 | 51.5kg | 8 |
| 44 | 5x1321213x | COOL CHAP | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 44 | 50kg | 8 |
| 45 | x97170x967 | ESCADO | G | 7 | Matt Laurie | 45 | 51.5kg | 8 |
| 46 | 0Dx13x3128 | CLONDAW WARRIOR (IRE) | G | 10 | William Mullins | 46 | 51.5kg | 8 |
| 47 | 2x0071x070 | ZANTECA (NZ) | M | 7 | Darren Weir | 47 | 50kg | 8 |
| 48 | 4821x7x000 | TALL SHIP (IRE) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 48 | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 49 | 5361x2x12x | SECRET NUMBER (GB) | G | 7 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 49 | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 50 | 16113x882x | SACRED MASTER (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 50 | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 51 | 11x7x1267x | ELITE ARMY (GB) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 51 | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 52 | 32x1837x8x | GREY LION (IRE) | H | 5 | Matt Cumani | 52 | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 53 | x00111132x | PENTATHLON (NZ) | G | 5 | John Wheeler | 53 | 50.5kg | 9 |
| 54 | 1x8331x07x | BERISHA | G | 5 | Robert Smerdon | 54 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 55 | 1x0x009159 | AUTHORITARIAN | G | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 55 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 56 | 75462102×0 | ROSE OF VIRGINIA (NZ) | M | 7 | Lee & Shannon Hope | 56 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 57 | 69×6031166 | AMEXED (NZ) | G | 6 | Tony Gollan | 57 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 58 | 9x6x1164x | KILIMANJARO (IRE) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 58 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 59 | 212x1x7x3 | ALOFT (IRE) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 59 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 60 | 2157134×64 | SWACADELIC (GER) | G | 6 | Aaron Purcell | 60 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 61 | x43114326x | THE MAJOR GENERAL (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 61 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 62 | x2117x8x00 | HANS HOLBEIN (GB) | H | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 62 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 63 | 0268505554 | TUNES | G | 8 | Grant Young | 63 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 64 | x23240x67x | ORBEC (FR) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 64 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 65 | 3x1412x | SARRASIN (GB) | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 65 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 66 | 817x9x399x | RULING DYNASTY | H | 5 | James Cummings | 66 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 67 | 0x3121x22x | DIVAN (NZ) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 67 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 68 | 32x145x22x | SINGING (FR) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | 68 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 69 | 673x7689x0 | MANNDAWI (FR) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 69 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 70 | 22x1113x | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | G | 5 | Andreas Wohler | 70 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 71 | 03x8148x0x | ARAB DAWN (GB) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 71 | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 72 | x0x51709x4 | TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 72 | 53.5kg | 6 |
| 73 | 0x25305x93 | SET SQUARE | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 73 | 51.5kg | 6.5 |
| 74 | 12x26x5x60 | ALPINE EAGLE | H | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 74= | 52.5kg | 7 |
| 75 | 8x41211x1x | HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 74= | 51kg | 7 |
| 76 | 23x111321x | BARSANTI (IRE) | G | 5 | Roger Varian | 76= | 51.5kg | 8 |
| 77 | 10x3419x10 | MISS ROSE DE LAGO | M | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 76= | 50kg | 8 |
| 78 | 1x2110x0x0 | SHIMRANO (GER) | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 78= | 51kg | 8.5 |
| 79 | 2231122×41 | HEAVENS ABOVE | M | 5 | Tim Martin | 78= | 50kg | 8.5 |
| 80 | 2622114x8x | MIME (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 78= | 50kg | 8.5 |
| 81 | 1x0x0730x5 | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 81 | 50.5kg | 9 |
| 82 | 31x221x665 | ALMANDIN (GER) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 83 | 146×5111 | ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 84 | 5x8x1153x9 | ASSIGN (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 85 | 60x406x463 | AZURITE (IRE) | G | 6 | Tony McEvoy | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 86 | 1x22x4 | BATTLECAMP (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 87 | 7×78142516 | BOLD SNIPER (GB) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 88 | 324210x85x | DANDY GENT | G | 5 | Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 89 | 72188512×6 | DANE HUSSLER | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 90 | 5212246x5x | DANJEU (IRE) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 91 | 23x10x0036 | DARLUX (FR) | G | 6 | Brian McGrath | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 92 | 16x7733x86 | DE LITTLE ENGINE | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 93 | 246x3269x2 | DEE I CEE (NZ) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 94 | 43x433191x | DREADED (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 95 | 0010x90x3x | EXTRA CHOICE (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 96 | x009x830x3 | FOUNDRY (IRE) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 97 | 143x60x46x | FRANCIS OF ASSISI (IRE) | G | 7 | Charlie Appleby | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 98 | 35x8421x74 | GABELLA (FR) | M | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 99 | 5070x67x53 | HI WORLD | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 100 | 2213x9x | IMPORTANT MESSAGE (GB) | H | 5 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 101 | 2322x0117x | KINEMA (IRE) | G | 6 | Ralph Beckett | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 102 | 14141x994x | LORD DISICK | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 103 | x976144x36 | MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) | G | 5 | Darren Weir | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 104 | 53113x67x6 | NOZOMI | G | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 105 | 62×0831117 | O’LONERA | G | 4 | Cindy Alderson | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 106 | 6x11x4017x | OCEANOGRAPHER (GB) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 107 | x131130x91 | PEMBERLEY (NZ) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 108 | 615x05212x | PLYMOUTH ROAD (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 109 | 322x00x22x | QEWY (IRE) | G | 7 | Charlie Appleby | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 110 | 232x1114x4 | RAW IMPULSE (GB) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 111 | 6x94121x | REPLIQUE (NZ) | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 112 | 33x153413x | SCHERZOSO | G | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 113 | 122x323x5x | SECOND BULLET | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 114 | 213141x24x | SECOND WAVE (IRE) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 115 | x2124x00x9 | SHAMKIYR (FR) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 116 | 34x29x | STONE WARRIOR (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 117 | 10x81642x4 | THE BANDIT (JPN) | H | 5 | John Sadler | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 118 | 0044511763 | THUNDER DOWN UNDER | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 119 | 171x110x2x | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 6 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 120 | 317x3x | UNICORN (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 121 | x2x1145x5x | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 122 | 124×912598 | WHITE DOLLAR SIGN | G | 5 | John Thom | 82= | 50kg | 9.5 |
| 123 | 36×1633 | LORD MACAU | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 82= | 49kg | 9.5 |
