Connections of one of the early favourites for the $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), Cedarberg, have announced the last-start winner of The BMW is an unlikely runner in the testing two-mile feature at Randwick on Saturday April 23.
Cedarberg is more likely to target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes than the Sydney Cup on April 23
Four-year-old Helenus gelding Cedarberg burst into Sydney Cup contention with an upset victory in the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 2, beating home Mourayan by an easy 1 ¼ lengths despite carrying a hefty 58.5kg.
The elite level win saw bookies slash their price on Cedarberg in the ante-post Sydney Cup markets, the Pat Carey-trained galloper now the close $7.50 second favourite behind Lloyd William’s Mourayan.
However Cedarberg’s owner-breeder Trevor Delroy has told The West Australian that they are likely to bypass the Sydney Cup and contest the shorter-distanced Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same meeting instead.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes offers the same $500,000 in prize money but is run over a more suitable 2000m.
With rain likely to continue in Sydney throughout the remainder of the month, Delroy expressed concerns over running Cedarberg over the two-mile Cup distance on a wet track.
“I think it is unlikely he will go into the Sydney Cup,” Delroy said.
“I know he is pitched in on the weight, but there is a chance the Cup could be run on a wet track and running on a bog over 3200m is risky.
“The Queen Elizabeth is run on the same day and has the same money.”
Cedarberg is one of 85 horses nominated for the 2011 Schweppes Sydney Cup and has been allocated just 51kg for the showdown.
Other horses fancied to become the Sydney Cup winner in the current markets include Lee Freedman’s High Chaparral five-year-old Above Average ($8.50), improving Galileo four-year-old Linton ($11) who ran third in The BMW, Peter Moody’s Zabeel gelding Macedonian ($12) and the Anthony Cummings-trained veteran Zavite ($12).
Acceptances for the Sydney Cup will be taken on Wednesday April 20 with the final field and barrier draw published here first at Races.com.au.
2011 Schweppes Sydney Cup Ballot & Weights
| # | Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DESCARADO (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse | 1 | 58kg | 115 |
| 2 | ZAVITE (NZ) | Anthony Cummings | 2 | 57.5kg | 114 |
| 3 | LINTON | Robert Hickmott | 3 | 55kg | 109 |
| 4 | HAWK ISLAND (IRE) | Chris Waller | 4= | 54.5kg | 108 |
| 5 | ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE (GB) | David Payne | 4= | 54.5kg | 108 |
| 6 | C’EST LA GUERRE (NZ) | Robert Hickmott | 7= | 53.5kg | 106 |
| 7 | SPEED GIFTED (GB) | Lee Freedman | 7= | 53.5kg | 106 |
| 8 | LORNE DANCER | Gai Waterhouse | 9 | 53kg | 105 |
| 9 | ONCE WERE WILD | Gai Waterhouse | 4= | 52.5kg | 108 |
| 10 | MOURAYAN (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 10= | 52kg | 103 |
| 11 | SHOWCAUSE | Frank Ritchie | 10= | 52kg | 102 |
| 12 | ABOVE AVERAGE (IRE) | Lee Freedman | 12= | 51.5kg | 100 |
| 13 | LARRY’S NEVER LATE (NZ) | Jim Conlan | 12= | 51.5kg | 101 |
| 14 | MUIR (GB) | Robert Hickmott | 12= | 51.5kg | 100 |
| 15 | TINSELTOWN (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 12= | 51.5kg | 101 |
| 16 | ABSOLUTELYAWESOME (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 62 | 51kg | 78 |
| 17 | AJHAR (USA) | Lee Freedman | 52= | 51kg | 84 |
| 18 | ALEXANDER OF HALES (USA) | Chris Waller | 36= | 51kg | 92 |
| 19 | ANUDJAWUN (NZ) | Shaun Dwyer | 67= | 51kg | 73 |
| 20 | BEIJING BOY (NZ) | Chris Waller | 33= | 51kg | 93 |
| 21 | BERLIOZ (NZ) | David Hayes | 52= | 51kg | 84 |
| 22 | BID SPOTTER | Graeme Rogerson | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 23 | CEDARBERG | Pat Carey | 18= | 51kg | 97 |
| 24 | COUNT ENCOSTA | John P Thompson | 38= | 51kg | 91 |
| 25 | CYBER CRIME | Guy Walter | 82 | 51kg | 60 |
| 26 | DAVCON | Heath Conners | 51 | 51kg | 85 |
| 27 | DOOSRA DIAMOND | Bob Challis | 49= | 51kg | 86 |
| 28 | DOSTANA (NZ) | Bob Thomsen | 84= | 51kg | 55 |
| 29 | ESKIMO DAN (NZ) | Bevan Laming | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 30 | FAST FUTURE (NZ) | Russell Cameron | 16 | 51kg | 99 |
| 31 | FAZZA (NZ) | Jeff Lynds | 40= | 51kg | 89 |
| 32 | GALIZANI | John P Thompson | 70= | 51kg | 72 |
| 33 | GALLANT LADY | Lee Freedman | 58= | 51kg | 79 |
| 34 | GUDERIAN | Paul Perry | 70= | 51kg | 72 |
| 35 | HALFWAYTOLONDON | Ken Callaughan | 76= | 51kg | 67 |
| 36 | HARMONY (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 73= | 51kg | 71 |
| 37 | HE’S UNDER THE GUN (NZ) | Michael Moroney | 56 | 51kg | 83 |
| 38 | I’M JAKE (NZ) | David Brideoake | 65 | 51kg | 75 |
| 39 | IRONSTEIN | Gerald Ryan | 45 | 51kg | 88 |
| 40 | KING DIAMOND | Mark Kavanagh | 18= | 51kg | 97 |
| 41 | KING LIONHEART | Gai Waterhouse | 57 | 51kg | 80 |
| 42 | LARISTAN (FR) | David Hayes | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 43 | LOOSE CHANGE (NZ) | David Haworth | 33= | 51kg | 93 |
| 44 | MACEDONIAN (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 17 | 51kg | 98 |
| 45 | MARKAB | Bart Cummings | 75 | 51kg | 69 |
| 46 | MARTIAL LAW (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 63= | 51kg | 76 |
| 47 | MISS DARCEY | Anthony Cummings | 40= | 51kg | 89 |
| 48 | MISS KEEPSAKE (NZ) | Joseph Pride | 28= | 51kg | 95 |
| 49 | MONTAHLIA (NZ) | Michael Kent | 40= | 51kg | 89 |
| 50 | MOUNT EVEREST | Lee Freedman | 66 | 51kg | 74 |
| 51 | MR CHARLIE (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 38= | 51kg | 91 |
| 52 | MR CONSOLIDATOR | Leon Corstens | 78 | 51kg | 66 |
| 53 | MR PONZI (NZ) | Joseph Pride | 67= | 51kg | 73 |
| 54 | MR TIPSY (NZ) | Murray & Bjorn Baker | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 55 | MUKARRAR | David Hayes | 81 | 51kg | 62 |
| 56 | NAZABEEL (NZ) | Shaun Dwyer | 80 | 51kg | 63 |
| 57 | OLDER THAN TIME | Gai Waterhouse | 18= | 51kg | 97 |
| 58 | OUR CANNAVARO (NZ) | Chris Waller | 58= | 51kg | 79 |
| 59 | OUR SERENA | Pat Carey | 58= | 51kg | 79 |
| 60 | PERGOLA (NZ) | Colin & Cindy Alderson | 46= | 51kg | 87 |
| 61 | PLATINUM PASSION | Michael Moroney | 52= | 51kg | 84 |
| 62 | POPNAE | Guy Walter | 79 | 51kg | 64 |
| 63 | POWER TO SURPRISE (NZ) | Joseph Pride | 73= | 51kg | 71 |
| 64 | ROI D’JEU (NZ) | Shaune Ritchie | 40= | 51kg | 89 |
| 65 | RUBINACCI | Tony Vasil | 49= | 51kg | 86 |
| 66 | SADDLER’S STORY | Robert Smerdon | 36= | 51kg | 92 |
| 67 | SAINT ENCOSTA | John P Thompson | 28= | 51kg | 95 |
| 68 | SANDBERG | Guy Walter | 63= | 51kg | 76 |
| 69 | SCOTTISH BORDER | Garry Frazer | 40= | 51kg | 89 |
| 70 | SCOUTING WIDE (NZ) | Tim Martin | 32 | 51kg | 94 |
| 71 | SHADOW MINISTER | Garry White | 58= | 51kg | 79 |
| 72 | SHAMOLINE WARRIOR | Mark Kavanagh | 28= | 51kg | 95 |
| 73 | SHOW DANCER (NZ) | Bart Cummings | 83 | 51kg | 56 |
| 74 | SOLID BILLING | Craig Ritchie | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 75 | SPACE STATION | Bede Murray | 84= | 51kg | 55 |
| 76 | STAND TO GAIN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 52= | 51kg | 84 |
| 77 | STRIKE ONE (GB) | Chris Waller | 28= | 51kg | 95 |
| 78 | THE PARTY STAND (NZ) | Roger James | 18= | 51kg | 97 |
| 79 | THE PATRIOT | Luke Price | 76= | 51kg | 67 |
| 80 | TRIUMPHANT CHOICE | Peter G Moody | 70= | 51kg | 72 |
| 81 | VESPER | Robert Hickmott | 33= | 51kg | 93 |
| 82 | VIVID VIXEN (NZ) | Mick Price | 22= | 51kg | 96 |
| 83 | WELL HANDLED | David Payne | 67= | 51kg | 73 |
| 84 | ZARA DANCER (NZ) | Bruce Wallace | 46= | 51kg | 87 |
| 85 | ZAUBERIN | Russell Cameron | 46= | 51kg | 87 |
