Weight rise for Sense Of Occasion

Villiers Stakes winner Sense of Occasion will have to overcome a sharp weight rise if he is to claim a $100,000 bonus at Eagle Farm.

Sense of Occasion won the Group Two Villiers with 54kg on December 17 and has been given an extra 4.5kg in Saturday’s Bernborough Quality (1600m).

The Brisbane Race Club is offering the $100,000 bonus on top of the $160,000 first prize for any horse which can take the Villiers-Bernborough double.

Trainer Kris Lees is expected to make a decision on whether Sense Of Occasion will head north on Monday or Tuesday.

Lees also has the option to run Sense Of Occasion in the Gosford Cup on January 13.

The Bernborough has attracted 21 nominations including Burning Front and Kenjorwood from the Victorian stables of Darren Weir.

Honest gelding Hopfgarten leads the Queensland contingent and is topweight with 59.5kg.

“We meet Sense Of Occasion two kilos better at the weighs and Hopfgarten has a very good record at the Eagle Farm 1600 metres,” trainer Rob Heathcote said.

Hopfgarten finished fifth in the Villiers, two lengths behind Sense Of Occasion.