Amralah

Only question mark is he may not run Sunny, williams tells lots of porkies but he is still saying McKinnon is an option than spell. I dont believe him but still a risk if loading up

Anything out of Nick Williams mouth you need to take with a grain of salt.

Running.

Amralah on the Cup borderline

·         12:00pm

·         |Tom Biddington - @TomBiddington

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Amralah cruises to victory in the Herbert Power (Photo courtesy of Slickpix)

Amralah is on the verge of getting a run in the Melbourne Cup after being penalised 2kg for his dominant win in the Herbert Power Stakes on Saturday.

Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announced the penalty on Monday morning, which moves Amralah up to 27^th on the order of entry with 53.5kg.

The Melbourne Cup has a capacity field of 24, so the Robert Hickmott-trained stayer will need some attrition to ensure a start in the $6 million Group 1.

The penalty is the same given to previous Herbert Power Stakes winners Big Memory (2014) and Leica Falcon (2005).

Carpenter acknowledged Amralah has now won twice since allocating his original Melbourne Cup weight of 51.5kg, and feels the extra 2kg is fair.

“I thought his performance on Saturday was outstanding - knuckled at the start, Hugh Bowman made a mid-race move where he circled the field and at the end of it, he was pretty impressive,” Carpenter said.

“There was probably more thought about going to 1.5kg than there was 2.5kg, but the decision to make 2kg was one that was fully supported by our handicapping panel here at Racing Victoria.

“In recent years, generally, it’s been a 1.5kg penalty.

“It’s more a decision about where he sits in the weights... the 53.5kg will be a challenge for him but I think he can certainly run in the top five or six.”

Owner Lloyd Williams confirmed on Sunday that Amralah wouldn’t run in the Caulfield Cup, and instead will compete in either the Mackinnon Stakes or the Melbourne Cup next.

The last horse to complete the Herbert Power Stakes–Melbourne Cup double was Rogan Josh in 1999. Rogan Josh did not receive a penalty for his 2-length win in the Herbert Power. The following week Rogan Josh ran 4th in the Caulfield Cup, then won the Mackinnon Stakes and then the Melbourne Cup and a month later ran 4th in the Hong Kong Vase.

Damien Oliver to ride in the Big Dance I believe!

It's on Racenet.

Caulfield Cup & Cox Plate winning hopes with Cup in mind would already be qualified, but the winners of the Lexus & Mackinnon will climb over him. Also needs to hope something like Dandino or Pornichet (i.e. those with enough, or near enough weight, but not yet passing the first ballot clause) doesn't do a demolition job on the Geelong or Bendigo Cups.

He's far from in the field.

The $26 was a good price. I give him a great chance on winning. Was very good on Saturday and may even improve in the MC.

Backing up from 2000m the week previous...I'm sure he looked pretty tight.

With the way this bloke licked Excess Knowledge after nearly falling at the start and circling the field with 58.5kg, I would have loved to see him in action yesterday.

Is his system now clear of the drug now?   I was supposed that he wasn't in the noms for the Queens Cup on Saturday. Would have been a nice consolation for missing the Cup run

Would have won the Cup by 2.3 lengths pulling up.

Lloyd on MC night...

i thought he had been sent to the paddock