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A total of 98 nominations have been weighted for the 160th running of the $2,000,000 Schweppes Sydney Cup (Group 1) to be staged at Royal Randwick (Day Two of The Championships) on Saturday, 12th April 2025.

This year’s top weight with 58kg on a 50.0kg limit (49.0kg for 3yo’s) is Vauban (FR) with some exceptional international staying performances which include most recently a win in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3319m) and a 2nd in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m).

The 2024 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Knight’s Choice has been allotted 55.5kg, which represents a 4kg increase on his weight carried to win. The nominations this year also include Circle Of Fire (GB) allotted 55.0kg, the winner of the 2024 edition of the Sydney Cup when beating Athabascan (FR) by 2.0L carrying 51.5kg.

The 2024 Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) winner Land Legend (FR) has been allotted 54.5kg, which represents a 3.5kg increase on his weight carried to win. Following this win, Land Legend (FR) went on to run a 3rd placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) behind Duke De Sessa (IRE) carrying 53kg.

The highest weighted mare in the race this year is Deny Knowledge (IRE) with 54.5kg. Another mare of interest is Zardozi who has been allotted with 53kg after running a terrific 4th beaten 1.3L in the 2024 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

International Profiles:
Desert Hero (GB) 54.5kg - A lightly raced 5yo gelding trained by William Haggas with a record of 4 wins from 10 starts. After winning his first race back in June 2022 he has since gone on to win the 2023 Group 3 Gordon Stakes (2414m) by a neck. The following start he ran in the Group 1 St Leger (2916) at Doncaster finishing a good 2nd to Continuous (JPN).

Cils Blancs (JPN) – 54.0kg – A 7yo horse trained by Yukio Inagaki with a record of 4 wins from 22 starts. A seasoned stayer with his best performances a 3rd in the 2023 Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Tokyo and a very close 2nd in the 2024 Group 2 Stayers Stakes (3600m) at Nakayama racecourse in Japan.

Check out the weights for the Schweppes Sydney Cup