A total of 132 nominations have been weighted for the 158th running of the $2,000,000 Schweppes Sydney Cup (Group 1) to be staged at Royal Randwick (Day 2 of The Star Championships) on Saturday, 8th April 2023.
This year's top weight with 59.5kg on a 50.0kg limit (49.0kg for 3yos) is the reigning 2022 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Gold Trip (FR).
The weight allotted this year represents a 2kg increase on the 57.5kg carried to win. Prior to winning the Melbourne Cup he finished a close 2nd in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) carrying 57.5kg behind Durston (GB).
Next in the weights is the reigning 2022 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Knights Order (IRE) with 56.5kg. After a commanding victory in the race last year carrying 51.5kg, he has since won the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick as well as a fantastic 3rd placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) carrying 55.5kg.
The nominations this year also include Selino (GB) allotted 53.0kg, the winner of the 2021 edition of the Sydney Cup when beating Rondinella (NZ) by 1.3L carrying the limit weight of 50.0kg.
The 2022 Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) is also very heavily represented in the nominations with the top 2 finishers – 1st – No Compromise (NZ) and 2nd – Le Don De Vie (GB) both included.
After winning, No Compromise (NZ) had unplaced runs in two black type races before most recently running a fantastic race first up in the Gardenia Handicap (1600m) carrying 61.5kg. Other nominated runners from the race include 4th Stockman (NZ), 5th Sacramento, 8th Arapaho (FR) and 9th Mankayan (IRE).
The highest weighted mares in the race this year are Lunar Flare with 51.5kg and High Emocean (NZ) with 51.0kg.
The 6yo High Emocean (NZ) finished the Spring of 2022 strongly with a 3rd in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) carrying 50.0kg on the back of winning the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) only six days earlier.
International Profiles
Baron Samedi (GB) 55.0kg - A 6yo gelding trained by Joseph O'Brien with a record of 7 wins from 19 starts. After winning his first race back in September 2020 he went on a run of 6 successive victories culminating in winning the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) by nearly 3 lengths. His most recent start was a 2nd in the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes (3219m) at the Curragh.
Earl Of Tyrone (IRE) – 52.5kg – A 5yo gelding trained by William Haggas with a record of 4 wins from 16 starts. A progressive stayer in the making with his best win in the Listed Martin Molony Stakes (2515m) at Limerick. He then followed this up by running 3rd in the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York on 20th August 2022.
