Tatt’s Cup weight a worry for Rudy

Consistent stayer Rudy will join some of Australia’s best gallopers if he can carry top weight to win the Group Three Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben.

Many Brisbane races have proved a nightmare for topweights over the years and Tattersall’s Cup is one of them.

Rudy has 59.5kg in Saturday’s Cup (2200m) and only three horses have carried more to win the race since World War II.

In the metric era, Doomben Cup winner Sapio, holds the weight carrying record at 60.5kg in 1997.

The superstar weight-for-age galloper of the 1960s Winfreux won consecutive Tattersall’s Cups (1966-67), carrying 9 stone 7lb (60.5 kg) in the second.

The Cox Plate winner Dhaulagiri carried carried 9 stone 6lb (60kg) when he won the Tatts Cup in in 1962.

Rudy, one of only eight acceptances for the Tatt’s Cup, will be reunited with Sydney jockey Tim Clark on Saturday.

Clark rode Rudy to second in the Group Two O’Shea Stakes and third in the Group One Doomben Cup but missed the gelding’s last-start fifth in the Group Two Brisbane Cup.

Owner Tom Clarke hopes the booking of Clark can help overcome the big weight.

“As everyone keeps reminding me Rudy has won only one race in two years,” Clarke said.

“But he pays for being so consistent with terrific runs in major races.

“Hugh Bowman rode him well in the Brisbane Cup but Rudy seems to go extra well for Tim. Rudy likes Doomben and all he needs is some luck.”