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Preferment out of the Melbourne Cup

Preferment being ridden to victory. (Photo: AAP)
Editor
19th October, 2016
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The Chris Waller-trained Preferment has been pulled from the Melbourne Cup after it was decided to concentrate the horse’s efforts on the Emirates Stakes on November 5.

In a statement released on Waller’s Twitter account on Thursday morning, the trainer stated that he wanted the five-year-old to “be freshened up with the purpose of directing his campaign towards the G1 Emirates Stakes.”

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The decision will have plenty of repercussions for the remainder of the Melbourne Cup field.

With the minimum field weight at 57kg, Preferment was the heaviest horse before being scratched, carrying 56.5kg.

To make up the for the limit, the whole field was expected to be pushed up and extra 0.5kg to make weight, but that gap will now be much larger and the entire contingent may have to take on a heavier load.

With a pair of wins earlier in the year and some strong runs in her last four starts, Preferment had been shaping up well for the race that stops the nation despite carrying the largest weight in the field.

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A fourth and fifth placed finish at the Turnbull and Hill Stakes respectively have likely influenced the decision because of the 2000-metre distance he ran at both times.

The Emirates Stakes, now the main focus of Waller, is the same two-kilometre distance and is expected to suit the Kiwi horse much better.

A disappointing run at the Caulfield Cup which saw Preferment finish 11th over 2400 metres didn’t bode well for a tilt at the much harsher 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup.

The Preferment’s withdrawal means there are now 44 horses remaining in contention to make the final Melbourne Cup field.

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