The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) will be run on Saturday, October 19, and on Tuesday, the weights were announced for the 86 nominated runners in the $5 million feature.
After booking his place in the Cup through an unexpected victory in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), Esti Feny from the Matthew Smith stable joins Fawkner Park as one of two runners that are ballot exempt for the Caulfield Cup.
Following his commanding victory in the Group 1 Q22 (2200m) during the winter, Fawkner Park aims to replicate the success of Without A Fight, who used the same race as a launchpad to Caulfield Cup glory in 2023.
Fawkner Park, set to return for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald in this Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, is prominently placed in the Caulfield Cup weights with 55kg, alongside Group 1 winner Kalapour, trained by Kris Lees.
Japan will again be represented in the Caulfield Cup, as Warp Speed, trained by Noboru Takagi, has been assigned 54.5kg in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Meanwhile, Place Du Carrousel, a Yulong Investments purchase now trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, has been allotted 54kg in both Cups.
She impressed with a second-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on her Australian debut and is slated to run in the Underwood Stakes.
Joining her will be the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) winner and Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun, who has been assigned 50.5kg for both races, with the Caulfield Cup her primary target.
Another contender gaining attention is Ceolwulf, trained by Joe Pride, who carries 52kg.
The Tavistock gelding, despite not yet winning a black-type race, placed second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) earlier this year.
Italian import Que Tempesta, weighing in at 53kg, made a strong debut for Lindsay Park and will continue his spring campaign in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) this Saturday, offering the winner ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup.
Eliyass, another import who has won both starts since arriving in Australia under the guidance of Adrian Bott & Gai Waterhouse, will race in Sydney on the same day, carrying 53kg.
Sharing the same weight is 2019 Melbourne Cup winner and Caulfield Cup runner-up Vow And Declare, who remains a strong contender.
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