Aidan O'Brien has been given more reason to aim Septimus at the Melbourne Cup after hearing that the five-year-old will not pick up a penalty for his runaway success in the Irish St Leger.

Unbeaten in his last four starts, the son of Sadler's Wells powered away to score by 13 lengths at the weekend, but he will still carry the 58.5kg (9st 3lb) he was originally allotted.

News was not so good for O'Brien's Doncaster Cup hero Honolulu, however, as he has been raised a kilogram to 54.kg for his decisive victory on Town Moor.

Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter told Racing Victoria's website: "While Septimus was visually very impressive on Saturday, given the level of opposition the performance does not warrant a penalty for the Melbourne Cup.

"The runner up, New Zealand, had won a maiden at Killarney at his previous run after being soundly beaten in maiden company at his two previous starts this season.

"The third Red Moloney was beaten 13 lengths in a Listed race at his previous outing and is yet to win a race at Group level.

"Honolulu was a dominant winner of the Doncaster Cup, one of England's feature staying races, and his new weight recognises he has continued to improve from his three-year-old form."

[ 本帖最後由 asiadragon 於 15/9/2008 09:26 PM 編輯 ]

這樣 Septimus  有 Over 90% 去 Melbourne Cup

Honolulu 就要加磅

_ 咪又係重磅:jjjj:

總好過加磅:yyy::yyy::yyy:

想加磅，落去跑場 考菲爾德杯

再加2kg :fff:

不如唔好跑...跑 Arc算啦:yyy::yyy::fff::fff:

AIDAN O'BRIEN has expressed his delight that easy Irish St Leger winner Septimus had escaped a penalty for the Melbourne Cup but said that the five-year-old could yet enter his calculations for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The son of Sadler's Wells was cut to 4-1 favourite (from 6) by VCBet for the Melbourne showpiece but the Ballydoyle trainer is still awaiting news of quarantine restrictions to be imposed by the Australian authorities, a factor that could yet have a bearing on where he travels.

“We haven't heard anything yet but we expect to hear news in the next day or two,” O'Brien said. “Obviously we were very happy that he didn't get a penalty.”

If Septimus reroutes to Paris on October 5 for the Arc, it would effectively rule out a trip to Australia a month later, but a decision will be made when the quarantine restrictions are known.

“He can't run in the Arc if he's going to Australia,” said O'Brien, who also has Doncaster Cupwinner Honolulu, who has received a 1kg penalty, and Alessandro Volta as possible Melbourne Cup runners.               

O'Brien added: “After we hear news about the quarantine we'll then have to sit down and discuss that hard, whether he goes into quarantine and goes to Australia or if he doesn't and goes for the Arc.

“Don't rule it out completely - the plan all along was to go for the Irish Leger and then on to Australia, but we'll have to wait and see as there are other things in the mix at the moment.”

Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter, explaining his decision not to penalise Septimus, said: “While Septimus was visually very impressive on Saturday in winning by 13 lengths, given the level of opposition the performance does not warrant a penalty for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.”

Soldier Of Fortune is the main Ballydoyle hope in the betting for the Arc and is a best priced 5-1 second favourite with William Hill behind Zarkava.

O'Brien 仲未決定...係跑 Arc or Melbourne Cup