Sports · Other Sports · 4 hrs ago
So You Are needs a handicap penalty to make the Melbourne Cup field
So You Are won the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday, giving the five-year-old gelding a chance to enter the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Rachel King, he beat Berkeley Square by half a length and secured his fourth straight win.
He was 28th in the Melbourne Cup entry order before the Bendigo race, while only the top 24 horses are set to start.
A 1.5kg penalty would move him into the top 24, but the handicappers have not yet decided whether to impose it.
The Melbourne Cup is a 3200-metre race, and Baker’s assistant Luke Hilton said he believes the distance would suit the horse.
The handicappers’ decision is expected Thursday; So You Are could also get a place if other horses withdraw or fail veterinary checks.
So You Are needs a 1.5kg handicap penalty to move into the top 24 for the Melbourne Cup.
The five-year-old won the Group 3 Bendigo Cup by half a length, extending his winning streak to four.
The decision is in the hands of handicappers, with a ruling expected on Thursday.
If he does not receive the penalty, he could still enter if rivals fail vet inspections or do not accept.
So You Are was 28th on the order of entry before the Bendigo Cup.
- Who
- So You Are, trained by Bjorn Baker, and the Melbourne Cup handicappers.
- What
- The Bendigo Cup winner needs a 1.5kg penalty to reach the top 24 for the Melbourne Cup.
- When
- He won the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday. A decision on the penalty is expected on Thursday.
- Where
- The Bendigo Cup was held at Bendigo; the Melbourne Cup is at Flemington.
- Why
- So You Are was 28th on the order of entry before his win and needs to move into the top 24 to secure a place.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
So You Are was 28th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry.
So You Are won the Group 3 Bendigo Cup by half a length.
A decision on whether to give So You Are a 1.5kg penalty is expected.
- Bendigo Cup
- Group 3, 2400m
- Bendigo Cup prize
- $500,000
- Winning margin
- Half a length
- Winning streak
- Four consecutive wins
- Melbourne Cup penalty needed
- 1.5kg to reach the top 24
3 sources
What people are saying
He's done everything he can, the horse, so he deserves to be there and hopefully that's enough to get him in
He doesn't win by big margins, which probably counts against him in getting a little bit more (of a penalty from) the handicappers
Fingers crossed they're nice to us now and let us in (to the Melbourne Cup)
Posts on X
So You Are wins the Bendigo Cup 2026 for Rachel King & Bjorn Baker