The reigning Melbourne Cup winning German import Almandin has been allocated the 58kg top weight for the Sydney Cup 2017 this autumn racing carnival.
Melbourne Cup winner Almandin heads the 2017 Sydney Cup weights this autumn with 58kg. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Handicaps for both the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 1 and the $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 8 were released by Racing NSW on Monday.
In the iconic two mile Royal Randwick clash on Day 2 of The Championships, the Robert Hickmott-trained Monsun seven-year-old Almandin gives the weight away.
The import won the ‘race that stops the nation’ in November over the same metres in Melbourne with 52kg, but rises six kilograms in the Sydney Cup weights for 2017.
Currently the Lloyd Williams-owned stayer pays $13 at Ladbrokes.com.au in futures markets to complete the Melbourne Cup – Sydney Cup double.
The stable were successful back in 2013 winning the Sydney Cup with Mourayan and also took out the race last year with 51.5kg lightweight Gallante (2016).
Mourayan (58kg) is the only Sydney Cup winner in over 30 years to carry more than 57kg to victory.
Gallante is also back chasing successive Sydney Cup wins for the first time since Tie The Knot (1998-99).
The six-year-old son of Montjeu won carrying 51.5kg last season and is allocated 54kg for the title defence.
Sitting second in the Sydney Cup ballot and weights with 57kg are the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained 2015 Caulfield Cup placegetter Our Ivanhowe and Japanese raider Tanta Alegria who ran fourth in last year’s Tenno Sho Spring (3200m).
Japan is also represented high-up the Sydney Cup order of entry by the Tomoyuki Umeda-trained stallion Admire Deus (56kg).
William Mullins’ Irish-trained duo of Max Dynamite, second in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, and reigning Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave are also allocated 56kg.
Leading the 2017 Sydney Cup betting in futures markets is the Chris Waller-trained son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, four-year-old Kiwi expat Antonio Guiseppe ($7.50).
The up-and-coming stayer – allocated 52.5kg – entered Sydney Cup calculations in the spring running second in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and returned with a gutsy Rosehill win on February 18.
Waller chases his third Sydney Cup win in 2017 after previous success with Stand To Gain (2011) and Grand Marshal (2015).
His other key entries this autumn include Grand Marshal (55.5kg) chasing a second win, rising nine-year-old Who Shot Thebarman (55.5kg) and Libran (55kg) who ran second in the Sydney Cup quinella last year.
Aside from the winner Almandin, Who Shot Thebarman (5th) is the other best of the 10 horses nominated for the Sydney Cup that contested last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Record breaking Victorian trainer Darren Weir chases his first Sydney Cup victory with the top-weighted of his eight entries being former Perth Cup winning mare Real Love (52kg).
She is also the highest-weighted of all the Sydney Cup nominated mares.
The highest-weighted three-year-old looking to be the first of that age since the aforementioned Tie The Knot (1998) to beat the older gallopers in the Sydney Cup is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Northwest Passage (49kg).
The progressive son of So You Think enjoyed the Hobart Guineas – Tasmanian Derby double this summer before returning to Melbourne and winning the Listed Torney Cup (2500m)at Moonee Valley on February 17.
Check out the full 2017 Sydney Cup Weights and Ballot Order below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your early autumn staying tips at the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2017 Sydney Cup Weights & Ballot
Randwick Racecourse – 08/04/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21x665111x | ALMANDIN (GER) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 1 | 58kg | 113 |
| 2 | 5501x5860x | OUR IVANHOWE (GER) | H | 7 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 2= | 57kg | 111 |
| 3 | x64x424x1x | TANTA ALEGRIA (JPN) | H | 5 | Sakae Kunieda | 2= | 57kg | 111 |
| 4 | 07339x260x | ADMIRE DEUS (JPN) | H | 6 | Tomoyuki Umeda | 4= | 56kg | 109 |
| 5 | 7221x2x30x | MAX DYNAMITE (FR) | G | 7 | William Mullins | 4= | 56kg | 109 |
| 6 | 33x264310x | WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) | G | 8 | William Mullins | 4= | 56kg | 109 |
| 7 | 33x726910x | GRAND MARSHAL (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 7= | 55.5kg | 108 |
| 8 | 35240x343x | TRIP TO PARIS (IRE) | G | 6 | Ed Dunlop | 7= | 55.5kg | 108 |
| 9 | 4x6527255x | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 7= | 55.5kg | 108 |
| 10 | 20x11x330x | BONDI BEACH (IRE) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 10= | 55kg | 107 |
| 11 | 6x341112x8 | LIBRAN (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 10= | 55kg | 107 |
| 12 | x23114407x | SIR ISAAC NEWTON (GB) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 10= | 55kg | 107 |
| 13 | 65x808462x | ALMOONQITH (USA) | H | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 13= | 54.5kg | 106 |
| 14 | 11x0x0D71x | AMRALAH (IRE) | H | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 13= | 54.5kg | 106 |
| 15 | 9x031x270x | GALLANTE (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 15= | 54kg | 105 |
| 16 | 1538x3x26x | RAINBOW LINE (JPN) | H | 4 | Hidekazu Asami | 15= | 54kg | 105 |
| 17 | 113061x00x | TAVAGO (NZ) | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 15= | 54kg | 105 |
| 18 | 4x27156x55 | REAL LOVE | M | 6 | Darren Weir | 15= | 52kg | 105 |
| 19 | 966x5340x5 | MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) | G | 7 | John O’Shea | 19= | 53.5kg | 104 |
| 20 | 8xD21x00x0 | SIGNOFF (IRE) | G | 7 | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 19= | 53.5kg | 104 |
| 21 | 6x511112x1 | ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 21= | 52.5kg | 102 |
| 22 | 3x882140x0 | SACRED MASTER (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 21= | 52.5kg | 102 |
| 23 | 13x02303x3 | TALLY | G | 4 | John O’Shea | 21= | 52.5kg | 102 |
| 24 | x615313x55 | ALLERGIC | G | 5 | John O’Shea | 24= | 52kg | 101 |
| 25 | 1153x9210x | ASSIGN (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 24= | 52kg | 101 |
| 26 | x3128x123x | CLONDAW WARRIOR (IRE) | G | 10 | William Mullins | 24= | 52kg | 101 |
| 27 | x5x411213x | LORESHO (FR) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 24= | 52kg | 101 |
| 28 | 03x421111x | AMELIE’S STAR | M | 5 | Darren Weir | 24= | 50kg | 101 |
| 29 | x450x42312 | CHANCE TO DANCE (IRE) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 29= | 51.5kg | 100 |
| 30 | x2252911x9 | PILOTE D’ESSAI (GB) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 29= | 51.5kg | 100 |
| 31 | 3x850202x0 | AMBIENCE | M | 4 | John O’Shea | 29= | 50kg | 100 |
| 32 | 3122x4117x | MEINER SAGE (JPN) | H | 5 | Yuichi Shikato | 32= | 51kg | 99 |
| 33 | 11x61x6910 | ST JEAN (IRE) | H | 7 | Aaron Purcell | 32= | 51kg | 99 |
| 34 | 611x92384x | HARLEM (GB) | H | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 34= | 50.5kg | 98 |
| 35 | 01170x41x7 | KINEMA (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 34= | 50.5kg | 98 |
| 36 | 50100×6053 | MISTER IMPATIENCE (GB) | G | 7 | Michael Moroney | 34= | 50.5kg | 98 |
| 37 | 3x0x85x10x | PENGLAI PAVILION (USA) | H | 7 | Charlie Appleby | 34= | 50.5kg | 98 |
| 38 | 361844831x | PURPLE SMILE | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 34= | 50.5kg | 98 |
| 39 | 113111 | NORTHWEST PASSAGE | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 34= | 49kg | 98 |
| 40 | x800x6731x | GOLDSTREAM (ITY) | G | 5 | Darren Weir | 40= | 50kg | 97 |
| 41 | 1211×44448 | MASTER OF ARTS (NZ) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 40= | 50kg | 97 |
| 42 | 54x067379x | PENTATHLON (NZ) | G | 5 | John Wheeler | 40= | 50kg | 97 |
| 43 | 2x145x227x | SINGING (FR) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | 40= | 50kg | 97 |
| 44 | 0x266223x6 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 6 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 40= | 50kg | 97 |
| 45 | 6×22427779 | PUCCINI (NZ) | H | 6 | Wayne Walters | 45 | 50kg | 96 |
| 46 | 24x8x3136x | BIG BLUE (GB) | G | 5 | John O’Shea | 46= | 50kg | 93 |
| 47 | 1×08158217 | CHENILLE (NZ) | M | 5 | Tony Pike | 46= | 50kg | 93 |
| 48 | 342x9533x3 | ALEGRIA | M | 5 | John O’Shea | 48= | 50kg | 92 |
| 49 | 130x91130x | PEMBERLEY (NZ) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 48= | 50kg | 92 |
| 50 | 30x161510x | LIZZIE L’AMOUR (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 51 | 5×67952044 | LORD VAN PERCY (GB) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 52 | 18111511×5 | PACORUS (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Wood | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 53 | 830111x77x | REDNAV | G | 6 | Sally Taylor | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 54 | 63877031×5 | SAVVY NATURE (NZ) | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 55 | 145x52482x | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 50= | 50kg | 90 |
| 56 | 4306520530 | PERFECT START (NZ) | M | 7 | Wayne Hillis | 56 | 50kg | 89 |
| 57 | 2117x8x00x | HANS HOLBEIN (GB) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 57= | 50kg | 88 |
| 58 | 38x2x20x4x | POLARISATION (GB) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | 57= | 50kg | 88 |
| 59 | 0x42x513x4 | OUR CENTURY (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 59= | 50kg | 87 |
| 60 | 0x42172974 | SNOW SECRET (NZ) | M | 5 | Shaune Ritchie | 59= | 50kg | 87 |
| 61 | 3x1x42112x | BIG DUKE (IRE) | G | 5 | Darren Weir | 61= | 50kg | 86 |
| 62 | x211xP3x9x | THOMAS HOBSON (GB) | G | 7 | Charlie Appleby | 61= | 50kg | 86 |
| 63 | 1917x277x4 | ASTRONOMOS (GB) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 63 | 50kg | 85 |
| 64 | x92265225x | COOL CHAP | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 64 | 50kg | 84 |
| 65 | 40x0x77113 | ANNUS MIRABILIS (IRE) | G | 6 | Stuart Webb | 65= | 50kg | 83 |
| 66 | 786750×758 | LIKE A CAROUSEL | G | 7 | Ken Keys | 65= | 50kg | 83 |
| 67 | 3423414x | DARABAD (FR) | H | 4 | Robbie Laing | 67= | 50kg | 82 |
| 68 | 1193712210 | EMBLEY | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 67= | 50kg | 82 |
| 69 | 9×62422129 | GOLD AMBITION (NZ) | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 67= | 50kg | 82 |
| 70 | 61111x000x | ESTEBAN (NZ) | G | 4 | John Sargent | 70 | 50kg | 81 |
| 71 | 316101090x | CINNAMON CARTER | M | 5 | Robbie Laing | 71 | 50kg | 80 |
| 72 | 239×231214 | ADMIRAL JELLO | G | 4 | Kris Lees | 72= | 50kg | 79 |
| 73 | 22×9060618 | DOUBLE BLUFF (IRE) | G | 6 | Robbie Laing | 72= | 50kg | 79 |
| 74 | 131212×062 | REGAL MONARCH (GB) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 74= | 50kg | 78 |
| 75 | 588353324x | SHALMANESER | G | 6 | Jason Attard | 74= | 50kg | 78 |
| 76 | 110x740x06 | LAST WISH (NZ) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 76= | 50kg | 77 |
| 77 | 124x43143x | ONCIDIUM RULER | G | 5 | Michael Kent | 76= | 50kg | 77 |
| 78 | 318x19312x | VANDANCER (NZ) | M | 4 | Michael Moroney | 76= | 50kg | 77 |
| 79 | 18×2131345 | BURNING ENERGY (NZ) | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 79= | 50kg | 75 |
| 80 | 4121x0600x | REPLIQUE (NZ) | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 79= | 50kg | 75 |
| 81 | 550×765751 | RENEW (IRE) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 81 | 50kg | 74 |
| 82 | 3358×04716 | ZATOPAZ (NZ) | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 82= | 50kg | 72 |
| 83 | 15x96010x9 | CAPTAIN DUFFY | C | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 82= | 49kg | 72 |
| 84 | 331L41Fx2x | I’LL’AVA’ALF (NZ) | G | 8 | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 84= | 50kg | 71 |
| 85 | 21x11x5323 | IMANUI | G | 4 | Ron Quinton | 84= | 50kg | 71 |
| 86 | 7222313x7x | LIE DIRECT | G | 5 | Steve Englebrecht | 84= | 50kg | 71 |
| 87 | 615x8x425x | MANAPINE | G | 5 | Nigel Blackiston | 84= | 50kg | 71 |
| 88 | 05435323×6 | BAYANOVA (NZ) | M | 6 | Michael Kent | 88 | 50kg | 70 |
| 89 | x08321155x | LORD FANDANGO (GER) | H | 4 | Archie Alexander | 89= | 50kg | 68 |
| 90 | 125x7416x8 | MORE ENERGY | G | 6 | Jason Coyle | 89= | 50kg | 68 |
| 91 | 2x9474x586 | OUR BAZAAR (IRE) | H | 6 | Archie Alexander | 91= | 50kg | 67 |
| 92 | 632115×956 | PARAGON | G | 5 | John Sargent | 91= | 50kg | 67 |
| 93 | 46×1531653 | ELATUS | G | 4 | Gerald Ryan | 93= | 50kg | 65 |
| 94 | x71638744x | MAVEN WIZ | G | 4 | Anthony Cummings | 93= | 50kg | 65 |
| 95 | 315x66316x | CILLA (NZ) | M | 4 | John Sargent | 95= | 50kg | 64 |
| 96 | 981×8614 | PENA AJENA | G | 4 | Theresa Bateup | 95= | 50kg | 64 |
| 97 | 73731×2833 | UNCLE BUCK | G | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 97= | 50kg | 63 |
| 98 | 32241×3346 | ZILBIYR (FR) | G | 4 | Robert Kingston | 97= | 50kg | 63 |
| 99 | 17x | IMPAVIDO | G | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 97= | 49kg | 63 |
| 100 | 6x | TURKONIC (NZ) | G | 3 | Robert & Luke Price | 100 | 49kg | 46 |
