No Caulfield Cup penalty for impressive winner

Lord Fandango and Big Duke cannot be penalised for the Caulfield Cup following their latest victories.

The two were successful on Saturday with Lord Fandango winning the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield while Big Duke won the St Leger at Randwick.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter is unable to raise Lord Fandango’s weight and he will carry 50kg in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup with the Herbert Power earning him a ballot exemption.

Lord Fandango is not entered for the Melbourne Cup.

Under the set weights conditions of the St Leger the winner cannot be penalised for the Caulfield Cup and because the race does not carry black-type the same applies to the Melbourne Cup.

Big Duke has 53.5kg in both races and sits 19th in the Order of Entry for the Caulfield Cup, for which final acceptances are taken on Tuesday, and 23rd for the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Darren Weir is expected to bypass the Caulfield Cup with Big Duke and run him in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 28 on his way to the Melbourne Cup 2017, the path followed by his 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance.

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