Latest News

A total of 100 nominations have been weighted for the 152nd running of the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (Group 1) to be staged at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships on Saturday, 8th April 2017.

Included in the nominations are 10 horses from the Group 1 2016 Melbourne Cup (3200m): 1st – Almandin (Ger), 5th – Who Shot Thebarman (NZ), 6th – Almoonqith (USA), 9th – Pentathlon (NZ), 11th – Grand Marshal (GB), 13th – Bondi Beach (Ire), 17th – Our Ivanhowe (Ger), 19th – Assign (Ire), 20th – Gallante (Ire) and 22nd – Wicklow Brave (GB).

Also included this year are four nominations from Japan with Tanta Alegria the highest rated on 111 and will carry 57.0kg. His last start was a win in the Group 2 American Jockey Club Cup (2200m) at Nakayama on 22nd of January 2017.

Last start winner of the Gr 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), Almandin (Ger) is this year’s topweight with 58.0kg on a 50.0kg limit (49.0kg for 3yos). Prior to the Melbourne Cup he had been very impressive winning the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington by 1.5 lengths as well as winning the Listed Harry White Classic (2400m) at Caulfield by 2 lengths the start prior.

Next in the order of weights is Our Ivanhowe (Ger) who has been allotted 57.0kg after having his last two starts in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). He was allotted 57.0kg in last year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup and has had five runs since including a win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).

Last year’s winner Gallante (Ire) has been given 54.0kg, which represents a 2.5kg increase on last year’s 51.5kg. He has since run 2nd in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) as well as being unplaced in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Left: Almandin (red cap) takes out the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Image by - Bronwen Healy

The highest weighted mare with 52.0kg is Real Love, winner of the 2016 Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley as well as finishing 5th in the 2016 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) carrying 52.5kg.

Northwest Passage is the highest rated 3yo nominated, however, will still carry the minimum for a 3yo of 49kg. He has now won his last three starts with his latest being the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley. Click here to view all weights – Schweppes Sydney Cup weights

- Racing NSW Handicapping Panel

Topweight for Group 1 handicap races Summary: Racing Australia decided on a change to the programming and handicapping of Group 1 handicap events, aimed at producing the best available race for connections and racegoers. The decision mitigates the impact when topweights do not accept to race (due to injury or change in the horse’s program) and weights have to be raised. Racing Australia believes that the raising of weights to only 57kg at acceptance time for Group 1 races rather than 58kg would be more in concert with the lower minimums that separate Group 1 handicaps from other races, and negate marginally excessively high minimum weights if weights are raised at acceptance time. The current wording of AR.103(2) requires the addition of “(57 kilograms for Group 1 handicap races)” to facilitate this decision. Amend AR.103(2) as follows: “(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subrule (1), if at the declaration of acceptances for a handicap flat race the weight allocated to the highest-weighted acceptor (including any extra weight by way of re-handicap or penalty) is less than 58 kilograms (57 kilograms for Group 1 handicap races), or less than a higher weight determined by a Principal Racing Authority, then allocated weights for the race must be increased until the highest-weighted acceptor is weighted at not less than 58 kilograms (57 kilograms for Group 1 handicap races).” Date of Effect: 1 March 2016