Hopes of a Kiwi win in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have been lifted with New Zealand's star gallopers landing comfortable weights for the two iconic races.
Weights for the $A6 million Melbourne Cup and the $A3.1 million Caulfield Cup were released by Racing Victoria yesterday.
Trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman got another win for their 4yr-old mare Bonneval just three days after her victorious return to racing in the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she was allocated 52.5kg for both races.
The light weight is the same impost Jameka carried to victory in last year's Caulfield Cup when the mare was a 4yr-old.
Bonneval is a $7 second favourite for the Caulfield Cup and at 15-to-1 odds with TAB bookmakers to win the Melbourne Cup.
The Baker Forsman stable's Australian Derby winner Jon Snow, who returned with a creditable sixth in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield earlier this month, has been landed with 54.5kg for both cups.
One of his main rivals from their 3yr-old season, Gingernuts, who returned with a most impressive finish in his first spring run in the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings, has half a kilo more with 55kg for both cups.
Both Jon Snow and Gingernuts are rated as $16 chances in the Caulfield Cup and at more than $20 for the Melbourne Cup.
Star Irish galloper Order Of St George was announced as the top weight with 58kg for November's Melbourne Cup.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained stayer has been nominated for the event twice before, including being given top weight last year, but is yet to make a trip down under for the iconic race.
Order Of St George is owned by Victorian Lloyd Williams, who also owns last year's winner, Almandin, who rises from 52kg to 56.5kg to be this year's second-highest-weighted horse.
Star Godolphin galloper Hartnell was installed the top weight for next month's Caulfield Cup.
The superstar, who has previously played second fiddle to Winx, returned with a dominant win in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield last month.
Other Kiwis who received weights for the Caulfield Cup include Chocante with 53kg and Sofia Rosa with 52kg, while Lizzie L'amour and Chance To Dream both have 51.5kg and Pentathlon has 50.5kg.
Sofia Rosa is not entered for the Melbourne Cup, but Kiwi gallopers Megablast and Rock On are. They both received 50kg.
Otago-bred veteran two-miler Who Shot The Barman received a 54kg weighting for what will be his fourth attempt at Australia's greatest race.
Fellow White Robe Lodge products in the Darren Weir-trained Yogi and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Broadside have been allotted 50kg.
