Swain top weight for Melbourne
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Your support makes all the difference.Swain, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner who is also third favourite for next month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, heads the weights for the Melbourne Cup on 4 November.
The Godolphin-owned horse was yesterday given 63kg - around 10st - for the Australian showpiece. That is the highest impost given to a horse in the race since Galilee's 64kg in 1968. Another Godolphin entry, Classic Cliche, is second top weight with 60kg (about 9st 7lb).
Mark Johnston's Goodwood Cup winner Double Trigger, 17th in the race in 1995, has 59kg (9st 5lb) and his brother Double Eclipse 57kg (9st). Grey Shot, seventh last year, has 53kg (8st 4lb).
Classic Cliche may have to undergo a name change if, as expected, he takes part. Another horse called Classic Cliche races in Queensland and because the Australian authorities will not allow the use of an (IRE) suffix, it is likely that Saeed bin Suroor's charge may have to adopt a "My", "Sir" or "Our" prefix, as used by New Zealand runners when they have the same name as an Australian horse.
MELBOURNE CUP (4 November) William Hill: 10-1 Might And Power, 12-1 Marble Halls, Yippyio, 14-1 Kassani, 20-1 Alfa, Always Aloof, Clerkenwell, Cronus, Danendri, Doriemus, Ebony Grove, Grey Shot, 25-1 others.
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