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Half kilo penalty for The Chosen One; Third Cox Plate tilt for Humidor; Trentham assignment next for Concert Hall
Half kilo penalty for The Chosen One
Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) winner The Chosen One has been given a half-kilogram Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) penalty for his victory in the Group Two race.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained stayer also passed the first ballot clause with the win and now has 52kg in the Melbourne Cup on November 5 and is 37th in the order of entry.
"In winning the Group Two Herbert Power, The Chosen One won exemption into the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m), and under the conditions of that race could not be penalised and will run with 52kg," Racing Victoria executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said.
"The Chosen One was, however, eligible to be penalised for the 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."
The Chosen One is an $11 chance in the Caulfield Cup and $26 in the Melbourne Cup.
Third Cox Plate tilt for Humidor
Multiple Group One winner Humidor has a great association with the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m).
The New Zealand-bred and part-owned galloper finished runner-up to Winx in 2017 before securing third in last year's edition and he will attempt to better those marks in this year's running.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gelding was on the sidelines through injury after last year's Cox Plate, but returned earlier this spring and has pleased his connections with his progress.
The son of Teofilo finished tenth in his first three assignments this term before putting in a good showing in Saturday's Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) to finish fifth.
"He's improved every run, we're quite happy with him," Maher said. "He was probably a bit unlucky not to run a place, so onto the Cox Plate now."
Trentham assignment next for Concert Hall
Group Three winner Concert Hall will head south to Trentham later this month after missing the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
Weather conditioners forced the hand of trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood with track conditions deteriorating to a Heavy11.
"We had our fingers crossed the entire week that the rain wouldn't come, but unfortunately it did," Wellwood said. "It was a shame because she had drawn well and the race looked ideal for her."
The daughter of Savabeel will now target the Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on October 26.
The winner of five of her 12 career starts, Concert Hall resumed with an unplaced performance at Ellerslie on September 7 before finishing runner-up to Vernanme in the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) at Counties last start.
