The Herbert Power Stakes winner The Chosen One might be racing for $5 million on Saturday but his chances of racing for the $8 million of the Melbourne Cup have not been greatly improved after receiving a half kilogram penalty on Monday.
The Group 2 victory last Saturday makes The Chosen One exempt from Wednesday’s ballot for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and it means he rises to 37th in order for a run in the 24-horse field in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
While the Melbourne Cup picture will be clearer following second declarations on Tuesday, the four-year-old Kiwi galloper will need a deal of attrition to other contenders to make the final line-up as is the case with the Cox Plate (2040m), Cup berths this year will also be hotly contested.
On releasing the penalty, Racing Victoria’s executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said: “In winning the Group 2 Herbert Power, The Chosen One won exemption into the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, and under the conditions of that race could not be penalised and will run with 52kg.
“The Chosen One was, however, eligible to be penalised for the Lexus Melbourne Cup and it was appropriate to acknowledge he is a quality four-year-old with an emerging form line.
“While he already meets most rivals from Saturday on worse weight terms in the Melbourne Cup, he was strong at the end of the contest on Saturday, so the decision was made to issue a 0.5kg penalty to amend his Melbourne Cup weight to 52kg.”
– racing.com
