VRC not happy with recent Cup alterations

The Victoria Racing Club is concerned about some handicapping alterations for it’s signature race the Melbourne Cup.

Last month Racing Victoria announced the Caulfield Cup winner cannot be re-handicapped to carry more than 56kg in the Melbourne Cup while those already weighted at 56kg or above at Flemington cannot be penalised.

That announcement was followed by an Australian racing rule amendment giving Principal Racing Authorities the flexibility to raise weights for Group One handicaps if the highest-weighted horse has less than 57kg at final acceptance.

VRC chair Amanda Elliott said tinkering with the weights should be on a horse’s form.

“I’m about defending the purity of handicap races not tinkering with weights,” Elliott told RSN927.

“Lets just let the handicap system work the way I think handicap systems should work which is with a good spread of weights and everything governed by the form of the horse and not trying to enhance any other races.

“In the case of the Melbourne Cup there shouldn’t be things done that impact the Melbourne Cup which we don’t think benefit the race itself.”

Elliott said her club was working together with RV to resolve the matter.

“It hasn’t been resolved yet but we’re very confident with the best wheels in the world on both sides that this issue will be resolved,” she said.

“The responsibility of the VRC is to defend the purity of the handicap, particularly of the Melbourne Cup which is where the magic comes from.”