Sunday win had no effect on Order Of St George Melbourne Cup weight

Darryl Sherer - Wednesday September 13

Sunday's Irish St Leger win did not impact upon Order Of St George's weight in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

Advertisement
Greg Carpenter with the 2017 Melbourne Cup trophy. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Raving Victoria Handicapper Greg Carpenter said the nine length win by Order Of St George over Torcedor did not change his last thought on the weight but confirmed to him 58kg was correct.

"I certainly wasn't locked in to 58kg but when I looked at the rating of Torcedor and Mount Moriah who ran third - they were rated 110 and 106 respectively so if they have run to their very best the rating is correct.

"It's not a case of looking at the margin and saying he (Order Of St George) has to be higher.

"To a point, the differential between Order Of St George and Torcedor in the Irish St Leger was virtually the same as in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot."

Over the past four decades, 35 horses have carried 58kg or more in a Melbourne Cup with only Makybe Diva winning with 58kg in 2005.

Carpenter also drew comparison with previous European Group I winners running in the Melbourne Cup.

"We've seen a champion like Yeats come to the Melbourne Cup and run bravely and not win, a multiple Irish St Leger winner like Vinnie Roe who was arguably unlucky to come up against Makybe Diva," Carpenter said.

"It is a challenge to win the Melbourne Cup with 58kg and we know the only horse that's done it is Makybe Diva.

"With a horse like Order Of St George, he's won three Group Is - if you were talking about an Arc winner or a horse that's won multiple Group I races as Yeats did then 58kg is not the ceiling but you have to be realistic.

"It is the third year he (Order Of St George) has been entered and I would be bitterly disappointed if connections did not accept the challenge of competing in the world's best 3200m race at Flemington."

Advertisment
More Reading...
G2 Eight Carat Attracts Star Fillies
Graham Richardson and Rogal Norvall’s star filly Lollapalooza is set to be joined in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day by her rapidly emerging stablemate Fleeting Star.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 16
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Newcastle
A debut winner for Farnan has an interesting background, bred in Queensland and sold as a weanling before becoming a pinhook winner at the Adelaide Magic Millions and now being trained at Newcastle where he won today.
Sires With Winners - Monday December 15
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with the top two juvenile contenders both by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Magic Millions 2026 Magazine Now Online
The Magic Millions magazine is now online featuring a terrific mix of stories for the racing fan and horse lover ahead of the racing canival and yearling sale next month in the Gold Coast.
Inglis Classic Sale-Topper Wins HK International Mile
Hong Kong champion Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) added another elite chapter to his extraordinary season on Sunday, producing a courageous performance to claim a second consecutive G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, further cementing his status as one of the great racehorses of the modern era.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia announces 2026 Next Crop Committee
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is pleased to announce the appointment of the 2026 Next Crop Committee, a national group of passionate and forward-thinking industry participants committed to supporting the next generation of Australia’s thoroughbred industry.
West is Best - Outstanding Perth Magic Millions Yearling Catalogue Online
The cream of the Western Australian yearling crop has been assembled for the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and the quality packed catalogue is now online. 
Pedigree Pointers – Karaka 2026
The 2026 NZB National Yearling Sales (January 25-29) offers buyers the cream of the New Zealand crop and in the weeks leading up to the sale we’ll go looking for pedigrees of interest for a myriad of reasons.