Oakleigh Plate: Peter Snowden says Sepoy has big task

News / Timeform / 21 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Sepoy is Dubai-bound

"...no three-year-old has carried more to victory than the 57kg shouldered by Fastnet Rock in 2005."

Peter Snowden has had his worst fears realised as his star sprinter Sepoy has been allotted top weight of 58kg for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, run over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday...

If Sepoy, who has only been beaten once in 11 outings, can win under such a burden he will set a weight-carrying record in the $400,000 event as, since the race was first run in 1884, no three-year-old has carried more to victory than the 57kg shouldered by Fastnet Rock in 2005.

In fact, no horse has successfully carried more than 57kg since champion mare Dual Choice won under 59.5kg four decades ago.

That said, Snowden has stated that his primary concern is not with how much weight Sepoy has to carry but with how he is handicapped in relation to his rivals, most notably how the horse must concede 1kg to Schweppes Rubiton Stakes-winning six-year-old Eagle Falls.

Snowden went on to express how, despite his unease, he was keen to start Sepoy in the Oakleigh Plate in order to give the Sheikh Mohammed-owned chestnut a solid prep before leaving for Dubai next month, where he looks likely to hold leading claims in the six-furlong Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 31.

Sepoy is currently trading at [2.74] for Saturday's Oakleigh Plate, a race won by the aforementioned Eagle Falls last year carrying the same weight.

Joining them in the field are likely to be Bel Sprinter (54kg) and triple top-level winner Yosei (53.5kg).

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