Victory Moon Stakes

I see in the Victory Moon Stakes that the Apache is set to carry 62kgs, the heaviest weight in the field while Sidera 50kgs, the lightest weight in the field. I thought in graded races the pull in weights is 8kgs to 10kgs eg heaviest weight 60kgs (eg merit rating 100) lightest weight 50kgs to 52kgs (eg merit rating 80 to 84). If any other runner has a lower merit rating it will run under sufferance cause least it can carry is 50kgs or 52kgs. The Victory Moon Stakes is not a Handicap so what type of Conditions race is it because with a difference of 12kgs in weight is a huge difference. Is it like the J&B met where graded winners get penalized and even in the J&B the difference in weight is nearly always 5kgs.

VICTORY MOON STAKES (Grade 2) 300,000

A race for all Horses
Benchmark at 60,0 kg = 109 or more
Benchmark at 57,0 kg = 104 to 108
Benchmark at 54,0 kg = 99 to 103
Benchmark at 51,0 kg = 98 and below
Additional Penalties to accrue as follows for races won in the period
18 months prior to the issuing of weights for this race
Winners of Grade 1 races : 2kg
Winners of Grade 1 races restricted to F & M : 1kg
Winners of Grade 2 races : 1kg
Winners of Grade 2 races restricted to F & M : No penality
Penalties will not be cumulative
Fillies and Mares allowed 2,5 kg in this race
The winner & placed horses of this race will not incur a penalty
of more than 6 merit rating points.

Jack Dash Wrote:

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> VICTORY MOON STAKES (Grade 2) 300,000
>
> A race for all Horses
> Benchmark at 60,0 kg = 109 or more
> Benchmark at 57,0 kg = 104 to 108
> Benchmark at 54,0 kg = 99 to 103
> Benchmark at 51,0 kg = 98 and below
> Additional Penalties to accrue as follows for
> races won in the period
> 18 months prior to the issuing of weights for this
> race
> Winners of Grade 1 races : 2kg
> Winners of Grade 1 races restricted to F & M : 1kg
>
> Winners of Grade 2 races : 1kg
> Winners of Grade 2 races restricted to F & M : No
> penality
> Penalties will not be cumulative
> Fillies and Mares allowed 2,5 kg in this race
> The winner & placed horses of this race will not
> incur a penalty
> of more than 6 merit rating points.

Thanks.

A difference of 12kgs in weights is still quite big. Even in the July although being a handicap there are weight restrictions imposed. There should have been also a restriction for a maximum and lowest weight. Just my opinion.