2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon has drifted significantly in this year’s market after it was announced he will carry an extra 4kg on his allotted weight from last year.
Racing Victoria senior handicapper Greg Carpenter has allocated 57.5kg to Green Moon with his price drifting from $15 to $21 in Betstar’s 2013 Melbourne Cup market.
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Meantime Sea Moon has remained rock solid at $13 after the Llyod Williams-owned galloper was handed 56.5kg, and is now equal third in betting along with Hawkspur.
“Sea Moon is the highest rated horse in the Melbourne Cup, but that’s based only on a singular run, rather than over a period of time,” Betstar’s Alan Eskander said.
“Therefore, if you think he can get back to his ‘benchmark rating’ he is very well weighted at 56.5kg, with the stablemate Green Moon having been allotted 57.5kg.
“Green Moon has gone up 4kg on the 53.5kg he was allotted last year, even though he carried 54.5kg in the race, so technically there is a 3kg difference.”
“Hawkspur is arguably the best weighted Australian galloper, coming off his strong WFA win in the Chelmsford Stks in Sydney, and that’s why he has shortened from $15 into $13.
“He is from the very strong four-year-old crop, and has been given 53.5kg which should see him in the race, at 2.5kg less than It’s A Dundeel and a kilogram less than Super Cool, both fellow Group one winning four-year-olds.”
Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune’s price has remained rock solid at $6, while last year’s runner-up Fiorente is still a $7 chance after being allotted 55kg this year.
Of the international raiders, Ahzeemah has been backed into $26 from $34 following his second to Voleuse De Coeurs in the Irish St Leger at the weekend.
“A horse like Ahzeemah could be the international to attract a lot of interest if Godolphin decide to bring him across with the 54.5kg he has been given in the Cup,” Eskander said.
“Obviously the international element of the Melbourne Cup has changed what industry participants are looking for at the release of weights
“In 150 years the average winning weight for a Melbourne Cup winner is 52.5kg, however, without winning a ballot free race in the lead up, one will not get a run with this light a weight.
“The internationals that intend to travel across to Australia hold the key to the race, holding 14 of the top 40 highest weighted horses in this year’s Melbourne Cup.”
