The Gai Waterhouse trained Glencadam Gold has guaranteed himself a start in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20 after being penalised 2kg for his all the way win in the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Glencadam Gold has been guaranteed a spot in the Caulfield Cup after being penalised 2kg. Photo by: Steve Hart
Glencadam Gold has remained undefeated for the Waterhouse stable since arriving from England and also received a 2kg penalty for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6.
Glencadam Gold’s weight for Caulfield Cup has been increased to 53.5kg and the import has moved to twenty-first in the order of entry before tomorrow’s third acceptances are due.
The imported five year old was originally handicapped at 50kg before being penalised 1.5kg for his win in the Group 3 $200,000 Tooheys New Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Newcastle on September 20.
With the penalty, the Metropolitan winner has moved to twenty-seventh in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup with first acceptance also due tomorrow.
Racing Victoria (RV) General Manager for Racing, Greg Carpenter, stuck to a similar formula of recent years giving the same penalty that the last three Metropolitan winners received.
“2kg is the same penalty that I have given to the last three Metropolitan winners in Speed Gifted, Herculian Prince and The Verminator,” Carpenter said.
“Tawqeet was the last horse to win the Metropolitan-Caulfield Cup double in 2006. Tawqeet, like Glencadam Gold was a northern hemisphere four-year-old and was also moved to 53.5kg following his win in the Metropolitan.”
Waterhouse was quick to find the secret for Glencadam Gold and the five year old has remained undefeated from four Australian starts, going from a restricted class galloper to a Caulfield Cup favourite.
Glencadam Gold was only the winner of two races in England in lower grades before Waterhouse purchased the gelding with the view of preparing him for the major Spring staying races.
The former English galloper is now the outright favourite for the Caulfield Cup at $4.50 ahead of December Draw ($9) with stablemates Seville ($11) and Green Moon ($17) the next two in the market.
And the inform Glencadam Gold has also risen to the top of the Melbourne Cup markets joining the Luca Cumani trained Mouth Athos and Turnbull Stakes winner Green Moon at $10.
Waterhouse’s other Super Saturday Group 1 winner Fat Al was also penalised 1.5kg for the Melbourne Cup for his win in the $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick.
Fat Al, who is not nominated for the Caulfield Cup, has been re-handicapped to 52.5kg but has yet to pass first elimination clause for the Melbourne Cup having never won beyond 2000 metres.
“Fat Al carried the minimum weight 52kg in the Epsom where he beat Amidexter by a head and the four-year-old moves to 52.5kg in the Melbourne Cup weights as a result of today’s penalty,” Carpenter said.
“Fat Al won the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate over 2000m back in April but has not raced beyond that distance.”
Fat Al is looking at a daunting task with the last Epsom winner to run in a Melbourne Cup in the same year was Super Impose who ran fourth in 1991 after lumping 60kg.
The Robert Hichmott trained Tanby was also hit with a 0.5kg penalty for both Cups after beating 2010 Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday in the Listed $120,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington on Saturday.
