The Melbourne Cup was and still is the race that stops the nation. When the race was conceived, it brought together the best handicappers from around Australia, and today the Victoria Racing Club has broadened the search to all corners of the globe.
However, the major change in recent times revolves around the handicap conditions.
The spread between the top and bottom weights has decreased to just seven kilograms this year. Take out Unchain My Heart (200-1 shot) and Signoff (career highlight Benchmark 90 before the Lexus) and it is only 5.5 kilograms.
One of the major factors has been the gradual rising of minimum weights across the country. Weight-for-age racing also raised the weight scale several years ago to cope based on the growing demands of jockeys and their welfare.
The racing industry should be commended for recently implementing several measures to improve jockey safety, including plastic running rails and better quality surfaces. And while the increase in minimum weights should be applauded, there needs to be room to move at the top.
Admire Rakti won the Caulfield Cup in dominant fashion and was penalised half a kilogram. Many believed this was too light, but Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter used history as a guide when deciding an appropriate penalty.
With no horse since Think Big in 1975 having saluted in the Cup with 58.5kg, he felt this was enough of a challenge for the Japanese raider. In 1975, Think Big was not even top weight and there was a 13.5 kilogram spread in the field.
While I’m not calling for a radical shift in the Melbourne Cup conditions, a rise in the maximum weights should allow for a more even and competitive field, benefiting owners, trainers, jockeys and punters.
And while on the subject, I’d love for handicappers to have the ability to re-handicap races after final acceptances. The Lexus Stakes and Bendigo Cup only had a 1.5 kg spread between horses, thanks predominantly to some unusual nominations from Lloyd Williams.
Australia is one of the few countries which still values handicap racing and it underpins the true value of the Cup, where billionaires and battlers share the chance of claiming the coveted three-handled trophy.
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
