Weld delays Melbourne plans
Dermot Weld will hold off making any plans for the Tooheys New Melbourne Cup until the handicap weights are released.
The Irish trainer has five horses entered, headed by last year’s winner Media Puzzle. He also has Vinnie Roe, In Time’s Eye, Lowlander and Maharib in the race.
Weld will also take the going at the Flemington Park track into account before committing any runners to the two-mile test.
“When we see what the handicapper has done with them a lot will then depend on how the horses are in a month’s time,” he told the Racing Post.
“I won’t be bringing five horses, that’s for sure. And the ground will also be a big factor in plans.
“It was far too firm for the race last year. In my view it was hard and none of my horses would want it that way.”
Weld also won the Melbourne Cup in 1993 with Vintage Crop.
Media Puzzle could make his seasonal bow on Sunday after recovering from a strained tendon that he sustained in Dubai earlier this year.
He is pencilled in for the Listed Ballycullen Stakes at Fairyhouse but Weld is waiting to see how the ground is riding.
He added: “The intention is to run Media Puzzle but that will very much depend on the ground at Fairyhouse.
“He certainly won’t be running if it is firm.”
