I think the handicapper got it wrong when he added 2 kg to Northerly's Melbourne Cup weight after the Caulfield Cup for the following reasons.

1. Fred Kersley probably would have started the horse at 58 kg and maybe even 59 kg, but 60kg is a big psychological hurdle.

2. The horse was weighted at 58 kg originally, even though he was untried at anything over 2000 metres. I believe a horse should be weighted in the cup, not only on what they have achieved but their achievement at distances similar to the cup. I would say that the handicapper is probably not the most popular person with the race club at the moment because they have probably lost their major drawcard and possibly the only chance we have of keeping the cup in Australia.