O'Brien pair avoid penalties

Racing:  Stablemates Yeats and Septimus have both escaped additional penalties for the Melbourne Cup following victories last…

Racing: Stablemates Yeats and Septimus have both escaped additional penalties for the Melbourne Cup following victories last week.

The former ran out a half-length winner of the Irish St Leger while Septimus was successful in the Doncaster Cup for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Already allotted the top weight of 59kg for the November 6th feature, Yeats would need to break a 38 year weight-carrying record to win this year's race.

Racing Victoria Limited's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said: "The Irish St Leger result reflects where the horses are in the weights for the Melbourne Cup, with Yeats already giving his rivals from Saturday weight at Flemington."

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Septimus is due to carry 57kg at Flemington and Carpenter believes that is a fair weight for the four-year-old.

"While Septimus was impressive in winning the race at Doncaster over Geordieland, he has yet to win at Group One level and I am comfortable with his original assessment of 57kg in the Melbourne Cup, given those circumstances," Carpenter said.

Stan James make Yeats an 8-1 chance for Melbourne glory while Septimus is 14-1 with the same firm.