Emerging Sydney stayer So You Are may be forced to contest today’s $500,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m) in a desperate bid to secure a place in the Melbourne Cup, despite winning three consecutive stakes races and receiving two weight penalties.
The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper has been one of the most progressive stayers in Sydney this spring, but his outstanding recent form has not been enough to guarantee a start in Australia’s most famous race.
As reported by Andrew Eddy at Racing.com, So You Are remained 32nd in the Melbourne Cup order of entry heading into Saturday’s Cox Plate meeting, with the weekend’s results doing little to improve his position. Baker admitted the situation was becoming increasingly frustrating, with connections now facing the prospect of another race just six days before the 2026 Melbourne Cup. “He’s won three black-type races in a row, got two penalties and we are still out of the race as it stands so it’s pretty frustrating,” Baker told Andrew Eddy at Racing.com on Saturday.“We’ll probably go to Bendigo if it comes to that, but I’d prefer not to.” Victory in the Bendigo Cup would not automatically guarantee So You Are a Melbourne Cup berth, but another success would likely result in a further weight penalty that could be enough to elevate him into the final field. The situation highlights the difficulty facing connections of horses attempting to qualify for the Melbourne Cup late in the spring, particularly when the order of entry remains relatively unchanged despite recent performances. The next major deadline arrives on Monday, when connections must make the third declaration payment of $5000 to keep their Melbourne Cup hopes alive. Those progressing to the final acceptance stage will then be required to pay a further $55,000 by 4.30pm next Saturday. Meanwhile, Saturday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup produced a remarkably competitive finish, with just six lengths separating the first 15 runners. VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business finished a further eight lengths behind in last place, although stewards reported no veterinary abnormalities following the performance.
Strictly Business currently sits 16th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, placing her in a considerably stronger qualifying position than So You Are despite their contrasting recent form.
For Baker and the connections of So You Are, the coming days will be crucial as they weigh up whether to send their in-form stayer to Bendigo in pursuit of the penalty needed to secure a Melbourne Cup start.
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