2014 MELBOURNE Cup winner Protectionist will carry the 58kg top weight in this year's Group 1 Caulfield Cup on October 17 after the official list of weights was released on Wednesday.
Now trained by Newcastle-based mentor Kris Lees, the champ failed to fire during the Autumn Carnival before pulling up injured after his last start – the Group 1 Sydney Cup on April 11.
Protectionist has since impressed his trainer in track work and will commence his bid for a successful spring in Saturday's Group 2 Tramway Stakes at Royal Randwick.
“We are very happy with him,” Lees said.
“I am a lot more comfortable with his work this preparation than we were in the autumn.
“He has looked a lot better to our eye, but the proof will be in the pudding when he goes to the races.”
Protectionist is $19 to win the Tramway this Saturday, while he is $41 with William Hill to take out the 2015 Caulfield Cup. The bookies have more faith in the son of Monsun returning to the winner's list on the first Tuesday in November, rating him a $19 shot to go back-to-back in the race that stops the nation.
Sharing the Caulfield Cup top weight burden with Protectionist is UK galloper Snow Sky, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. The five-year-old is yet to face set starter down under but has built a credible record in his career to date, winning on five occasions including victories in the Hardwicke Stakes and the Yorksire Cup during his last preparation.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Criterion, which won April's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick before setting off on a globetrotting mission with limited success, has been assigned 57.5kg.
Aussie hoop Zac Purton, who won last year's Cup aboard the ill-fated Admire Rakti, has been booked in to take the mount on Fame Game, which along with Contributor, will carry 57kg.
Mongolian Kahn, the $12 Caulfield Cup favourite with William Hill, has been assigned 55kg to carry should he contest the 2400m feature. Trainer Murray Baker has big aspirations for his charge, the victor of last year's Australian and New Zealand Derbies.
“I certainly hope (he can step up),” Baker said.
“You never know going from three to four, they've got to improve against all-comers and it's always tough.
“He stays well, he's only been beaten once past a mile and it was in the Rosehill Guineas and he ran a shocker for some reason.
“We don't know why, but other than that his form is good.”
Mongolian Kahn will have his first start this spring on September 12.
“He's coming along well, he's racing in the Makybe Diva at Flemington, the mile is probably a bit short for him but we've got to get him underway,” Baker said.
“After that we'll probably race in the 1800m at weight-for-age race at Caulfield (the Underwood Stakes), then the Caulfield Stakes and hopefully the Cup if he's showing form.”
Other key local charges include Hartnell (55.5kg), Kermadec (54kg), Volkstok'n'barrell (53.5kg), Lucia Valentina (53kg) and Rising Romance (53kg).
Caulfield Cup latest betting odds
Mongolian Khan – $12
Volkstoknbarrell – $15
Winx – $15
Hauraki- $16
Hartnell – $17
Fame Game – $17 with William Hill
Contributor – $17
Pornichet $21
Preferment – $21
Set Square – $21
Singing – $21
Alpine Eagle – $21
Hokko Brave – $23
Kermadec – $23
Noble Protector – $23
Magic Hurricane – $26
Rising Romance – $26
Max Dynamite – $28
Dibayani – $31
Excess Knowledge – $31
Goldstream – $31
Silverball – $31
The United States – $31
Pallasator – $31
Famous Kid – $35
Gust Of Wind – $35
Lucia Valentina – $35
Royal Descent – $35
Criterion – $41
Dubday – $41
Havana Cooler – $41
Protectionist – $41
*More odds available at www.williamhill.com.au
