Harlem handed 0.5kg penalty for Cups

Harlem has been handed a 0.5kg weight penalty for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Imported stayer Harlem has been given a half-kilogram penalty for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after his decisive win in the Naturalism Stakes.

Harlem earned a ballot exemption into next month’s $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) with his 3-1/4 length win in Saturday’s 2000m-race at Caulfield.

His penalty takes him to 51.5kg.

Harlem is one of four horses to have already earned a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption, the others being Humidor, Bonneval and Tally.

The penalty is the same given to last year’s Naturalism winner Jameka who went on to win the Caulfield Cup with 52.5kg.

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“Harlem was very strong at the end of the Naturalism Stakes, beating Samovare and Stampede in a race that was run at a genuine speed throughout,” Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said.

In the past 20 years, 14 Naturalism Stakes winners have run in the Caulfield Cup with only Jameka and Douro Valley, who finished second in 2007, finishing in the top five.

While he is in the Caulfield Cup on October 21, Harlem is No. 59 in the Melbourne Cup order of entry.

Saturday’s Colin Stephen Quality winner Auvray was not given a Caulfield Cup penalty.

Harlem is at $11 for the Caulfield Cup behind Humidor ($5), Bonneval ($7), Almandin ($9) and Hartnell ($9).