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.

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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."

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