Dunaden Melbourne Cup Favourite Despite Penalty
Dunaden has been given a monumental weight-carrying task in the Melbourne Cup after the handicapper lumbered the French staying star with one kilogram penalty for his Caulfield Cup win.
Racing Victoria general manager Greg Carpenter upped his weight to 59 kilograms after watching Dunaden’s incredible charge from the rear of the field to land victory under equal top weight in the BMW Caulfield Cup.
Dunaden will bid to become the 12th horse to land the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in the same year and the first since Rising Fast in 1955 to accomplish the feat carrying 59kg. In the past 40 years, 16 horses have attempted to win the Melbourne Cup under such a big weight and all have failed.
Mikel Delzangles who trains the seven-year-old, said on his return to Australia that Dunaden had improved over the winter and his statement was vindicated by the emphatic victory against a top class field on Saturday.
Despite being asked to give English raider Red Cadeaux 2.4 kilograms for his narrow win in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, Dunaden remains firm favourite at $6.00 with Australian bookmakers.
Punters seeking the best value in betting Dunaden to win the Melbourne Cup can look to European-based online bookmakers. Bet365 accepts Aussie punters and is currently offering 7/1 for Dunaden to land his second Melbourne Cup in under two week’s time.
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