Former Victorian galloper Flying Light has been given the top weight for the 2017 $75,000 Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup (2100m) at Cannon Park in Cairns on Saturday.

Flying Light, above, is the top weight for the 2017 Cairns Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Errol Sewell trained Flying Light has been allocated 60kg for the Cairns Cup, 3kg more than Townsville Cup winner Chivadahlii on 57kg.
Flying Light began his career under the Lindsay Park banner and found the winner’s stall on four occasions before being purchased by prominent Townsville race horse owner Tom Sheahan who sent him to Eagle Farm trainer Barry Baldwin.
The Exceed And Excel gelding was placed once from four starts for Baldwin before running third to Chivadahlii in the $100,000 Mater Townsville Cup (2000m) at Cluden Park in Townsville on July 29.
Following his Townsville Cup run, Flying Light was transferred to Errol Sewell’s Townsville stable.
Sewelll has also no0minated Go By Rio for the Cairns Cup and the consistent six year old finished an out of character twelfth last start to Chivadahalii in the Townsville Cup
The Jamie McConachy trained Chivadahlii is racing in great form and prior to winning the Townsville Cup ran second in the $75,000 Mackay Cup at (1800m) at Ooralea Race Course in Mackay on July 1 and then won the $25,000 Townsville RSL Royal Rewards (2000m) at Cluden Park on July 15.
“He ran fourth in his first run for me and then he ran second in the Mackay Cup,” McConachy said.
“I told the owners to forget about running in the Rocky Cup as he was looking for ground and the Townsville Cup would be ideal for him.”
The Fred Wieland trained Hot Saga with 55.5kg is the only other Cairns Cup entrant over the minimum with the remaining eleven horses weighted on 54kg.
Leading local trainer Trevor Rowe will be looking for back to back Cairns Cup wins with Great Pretender after collecting the trophy last year with Chateau Dettori.
“He (Great Pretender) is Cairns’ horse of the year, he has won six races here in the last 12 months,” Rowe told the Cairns Post.
“I think he will run the 2100m no worries.”
Rowe has also nominated Mukaddamah Son for the Cairns Cup but the veteran stayer needs to improve on his last start fourteenth in the Townsville Cup to be competitive.
Weights for the 2017 Cairns Cup (2100m)
# | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1106×35083 | FLYING LIGHT | G | 5 | Errol Sewell | 1 | 60kg | 89 |
2 | x732724211 | CHIVADAHLII | G | 6 | Jamie McConachy | 2 | 57kg | 84 |
3 | 09×3764176 | HOT SAGA | G | 7 | Fred Wieland | 3 | 55.5kg | 81.5 |
4 | 0x68x37237 | RANKED (IRE) | G | 9 | Alwyn Bailey | 4 | 54kg | 76 |
5 | x743457248 | MAJOR MAJOR | G | 9 | Roy Chillemi | 5 | 54kg | 74.5 |
6 | 7×12225350 | GO BY RIO (NZ) | G | 6 | Errol Sewell | 6 | 54kg | 74 |
7 | x009500x40 | MUKADDAMAH SON | G | 11 | Trevor Rowe | 7 | 54kg | 73 |
8 | 1536522241 | GREAT PRETENDER | G | 6 | Trevor Rowe | 8 | 54kg | 67 |
9 | 4674442372 | QUEEN GORGO | M | 6 | Mark Webb | 9 | 54kg | 65 |
10 | 3453613488 | ALDREN | G | 7 | Cherrie Lindgren | 10= | 54kg | 62 |
11 | 8254213001 | KHADIJA | M | 7 | Olivia Cairns | 10= | 54kg | 62 |
12 | x660157995 | RAMSDEN STREET | G | 6 | Fred Wieland | 12 | 54kg | 60 |
13 | 81288×5526 | THE LYNCHES | G | 6 | John Petersen | 13 | 54kg | 58 |
14 | x354232275 | PINK STILETTO | M | 6 | Gareth Horner | 14 | 54kg | 44 |