The best Australian hope of winning the Melbourne Cup in years, Surprise Baby, has been slugged with a 1kg penalty $8 million staying test after his win in The Bart Cummings on Saturday, a victory which guaranteed him a start in the great race.
Racing Victoria executive general manager for racing Greg Carpenter announced on Monday that the five-year-old son of 2009 Cup winner Shocking would be given the extra weight in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after Jordan Childs guided him to victory at the weekend.
The Paul Preusker-trained galloper, who has won five of his ten starts, now rises from 52.5kg to 53.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, while the penalty takes his weight from 53kg to 54kg in the Caulfield Cup where he has now moved from 41st to 29th in the order of entry.
For full story follow the link: