Third placegetter in the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup, Spanish Mission has been assigned the top weight in this year’s edition with 58kg. Champion trainer Peter Moody will be looking to fulfil a childhood dream of winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup and believes that Spanish Mission is a horse that could deliver that.
International hopefuls were the focus of discussion with current TAB favourite, Deauville Legend to carry 55kg, Loft 55.5kg, Without A Fight 55.5kg and English St Leger winning horse, Eldar Eldarov 55kg.
Local-trained mare and TAB Australian Cup winning Duais has been given 55.5kg with Edward Cummings set to have his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner. Cummings is trying to emulate his Hall of Fame Grandfather Bart Cummings who won a record 12 Melbourne Cups. The Cummings family chances don’t end there with Edward’s brother, James preparing VRC St Leger winner, Alegron who was assigned 53kg.
2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup winning horse, Vow and Declare will carry 54kg as he prepares to achieve a feat that no horse has done before and win the iconic race three years apart. After an eye-catching performance in the Sally Chirnside (2500m) on the weekend, the 7-year-old will now target the Lexus Bart Cummings with a top three finish guaranteeing him a spot in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Victoria Racing Club Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said the weights marked another milestone in the road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
“The weights signify another important step on the journey towards the first Tuesday in November, with many connections now focusing on a win and you’re in race,” Mr Jordon said.
“It is particularly important for those horses at the lower end of the weights to try and win their way into the Lexus Melbourne Cup and we can’t wait to see who snaps up the next golden ticket in the Lexus Bart Cummings at Flemington on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day.”
The full list of ballot exempt races for the Lexus Melbourne Cup are as follows:
|
Race
|
Date
|
Winner
|
|
Lexus Andrew Ramsden
|
Saturday 14 May
|
Point Nepean
|
|
Lexus Bart Cummings
|
Saturday 1 October
|
TBC
|
|
Caulfield Cup
|
Saturday 15 October
|
TBC
|
|
Cox Plate
|
Saturday 22 October
|
TBC
|
|
Lexus Hotham Stakes
|
Saturday 29 October 2022
|
TBC
|
The next key milestones and dates for the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup are:
|
Entry & Acceptance Stages
|
Date
|
|
Second Declaration
|
Tuesday 27 September 2022
|
|
Third Declaration
|
Tuesday 11 October 2022
|
|
Fourth Declaration
|
Monday 24 October 2022
|
|
Final Declaration
|
Saturday 29 October 2022
|
The full list of ballot exempt races for the Lexus Melbourne Cup are as follows:
|
Race
|
Date
|
Winner
|
|
Lexus Andrew Ramsden
|
Saturday 14 May
|
Point Nepean
|
|
Lexus Bart Cummings
|
Saturday 1 October
|
TBC
|
|
Caulfield Cup
|
Saturday 15 October
|
TBC
|
|
Cox Plate
|
Saturday 22 October
|
TBC
|
|
Lexus Hotham Stakes
|
Saturday 29 October 2022
|
TBC
|
The full list of weight allocations can be viewed here.
