Northerly tops Melbourne weights
The eight-year-old, a dual winner of the Cox Plate, has made an amazing comeback from a tendon injury sustained last April and has been given 9st 6lb for the big handicap.
With Ascot Gold Cup winner Papineau out for the season, the Mark Johnston-trained Bandari is the highest weighted of the British entries still among the possible runners on 9st 3lb.
Vinnie Roe, fourth in the race in 2002 for Dermot Weld, has 9st 2lb, while Ken McPeek’s American entry Hard Buck has 9st 1lb after his fine second to Doyen in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien’s Powerscourt also has 9st 1lb, with stablemate Brian Boru on 9st 0lb. Goodwood Cup winner Darasim is also on 9st 0lb along with Mamool, who was second to last in the race last year.
Other interesting weights include 8st 10lb for 2002 race winner Media Puzzle, 8st 7lb for Luca Cumani’s Ebor winner Mephisto and 8st 3lb for Maraahel, one of the leading contenders for next week’s betfair.com St Leger.
Last year’s winner Makybe Diva has 8st 10lb, while the former Barry Hills-trained Far Lane, who is now handled by Tony McEvoy, has 8st 7lb.
