3 minute read

Secret Blaze and Entente have been penalised for their victories over the weekend in the Caulfield Cup.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter has penalised Secret Blaze and Entente 1kg for the Caulfield Cup, but it has pushed the pair a shade closer to gaining a start. 

Secret Blaze was also penalised 1kg for the Melbourne Cup while Entente was not nominated for the 3200m race at Flemington on November 2. 

Both horses will carry 51kg if they gain a start in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 16. 

With his win in the JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on Friday night, Secret Blaze passed a ballot clause to move to 44th in the ballot for the Caulfield Cup but remains unqualified for the Melbourne Cup. 

The victory of Entente in the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday puts him one place higher in the Caulfield Cup ballot than Secret Blaze. 

Colin Stephen Quality minor placegetters, Young Rascal (second) and Fun Fact (third), were ineligible for penalties but improved their chances of a Cup start with their placing. 

Young Rascal passed the ballot for the Caulfield Cup and moves to 49th, while Fun Fact passed the ballot for the Melbourne Cup and moves to 46th in the Order of Entry. 

JRA Cup third placegetter, comeback galloper Rostropovich, was another to satisfy the ballot clause for the Caulfield Cup, moving to 55th in the Order of Entry. 

There are four ballot exemption races remaining for the Caulfield Cup, starting with the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Then follows the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 9 and the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 13. 

Remaining ballot exemption races for the Melbourne Cup are the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, the Caulfield Cup, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 23 and the Group 3 Hotham Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on October 30.