Onesmoothoperator cops 2024 Melbourne Cup weight penalty
UK stayer Onesmoothoperator is safely in the Melbourne Cup field following a penalty after his dominant win in the Geelong Cup.
Onesmoothoperator registered a 2-½ length win in Wednesday’s Group 3 victory over 2400m and Racing Victoria Head of Handicapping David Hegan rehandicapped the stayer 1kg for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
The Brain Ellison-trained raider now has 51kg and has moved to number 22 in the Melbourne Cup’s order of entry, inside the field safety limit of 24.
Craig Williams, who scored on Onesmoothoperator in the Geelong Cup, has been booked for the ride in the Melbourne Cup.
Hegan said he was impressed with the acceleration Onesmoothoperator showed in the final 100m after making an early run around the field.
“The commanding victory demonstrated that a 1kg penalty was appropriate when we consider the opposition, those horses around him in the ballot, his form from Europe and his performance rating in winning on Wednesday,” Hegan said.
“With his rise to 51kg, both The Map (sixth in the Geelong Cup) and Interpretation (second) will meet him 1kg better in the Melbourne Cup for their defeat, whilst the third placegetter Muramasa will meet him 2.5kg better.”
The penalty puts Onesmoothoperator ahead of Interpretation and Muramasa in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry who are numbers 23 and 25 respectively.
It is the fourth time in the last 10 years that a horse has been allocated a 1kg penalty following a Geelong Cup victory with Steel Prince (2020) the last horse to be issued the same penalty in the Melbourne Cup.
Warmonger, Military Mission, Coco Sun and Berkshire Breeze have been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup, leaving 51 still in contention ahead of Monday’s third acceptances.
Onesmoothoperator’s Melbourne Cup odds have shortened dramatically, firming from $51 to $10 with betting sites after his impressive Geelong win.
More Racing News
Seib to take her Due for G1 milestone in Spring Champion Stakes
Seven years after being thrust into training following the sudden death of her father Lewis, Danielle Seib will mark a significant career milestone with her first Group One runner at Randwick. Seib will run Due Calzini in Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and while he is one of the outsiders of the 11-horse...
Lindermann on track for the Craven Plate
Wide barriers have frustrated the start of Lindermann’s latest campaign, prompting connections to opt for Plan B at Randwick courtesy of the fact it comes with an inside draw. The 2023 Rosehill Guineas winner was slated to contest Saturday’s Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) but has already been scratched after drawing the...
Williams looking to be Sharp and Smart in Moonee Valley Cup
Graeme Rogerson knows the feeling of big race success at Moonee Valley having saluted in the Cox Plate with three-year-old Savabeel. He also has two Moonee Valley Cups on the mantlepiece when training for Lloyd Williams, courtesy of Zipping (2006) and Gallic (2007). Now preparing a team of horses in New Zealand...
Grahame Begg mare to work her Magic in The Invitation
The $2 million The Invitation has been earmarked as the main mission for Group One winner Magic Time this spring and trainer Grahame Begg is convinced he has her spot-on for the Randwick feature. The five-year-old finished third in the corresponding race 12 months ago but has since been successful twice at the...
Via Sistina right for WFA Cox Plate challenge
Champion trainer Chris Waller says something would have to go terribly wrong for Via Sistina to not take her place in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Via Sistina returned to The Valley on Thursday to wash away any mental scars she may have had following her mishap at ‘Breakfast With...
Darn tough colt up to 2024 Cox Plate test
James Cummings has asked many tough questions of Broadsiding in his brief career, but non as stern as what he will put to him this Saturday at Moonee Valley. The son of Too Darn Hot will take on quality gallopers from all over the world in the $5 million Cox Plate (2040m). He might...
First stop Randwick for globe-trotting jockey Rachel King
Riding at major carnivals around the globe is becoming second nature for top Sydney-based jockey Rachel King, who will have seven mounts on the Spring Champion Stakes program at Randwick before jetting off for a history-making appearance at the Breeders’ Cup in America. King will become the first Australian resident to...
Evaporate not just making up Cox Plate numbers
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes believe their three-year-old runner in the Cox Plate is more than just making up the numbers. Evaporate joins his more highly-credentialled stablemate Mr Brightside in the Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 2040m at Moonee Valley on Saturday, coming off a last start third...
Red Aces on Victoria Derby trial in Moonee Valley Vase
Being a late scratching from a race at Caulfield may just prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Victoria Derby chances of Red Aces. The Nick Ryan-trained colt was scratched at the barrier from the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) last Saturday after playing up in the gates and...
Chicama the Kirkham Plate Shore thing
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt will become the seventh to race from the daughter of Hussonet, who is out of Shantha’s Choice, which makes her a half-sister to many stars including Redoute’s Choice. Chicama was a $1.35 million buy for the China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy...