Mark Johnston today virtually ruled out making another bid for the Foster`s Melbourne Cup this year.
He reckons his main hopes Royal Rebel and Murghem have been given 'unrealistic' weights for Australia`s most famous race.
After studying the handicap the trainer is set to abort plans for a tilt at the two-mile event, in which he has saddled Quick Ransom, Double Trigger and Yavana`s Pace in recent years.
Royal Rebel, successful in the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Stakes on his last two starts, has been set to carry 9st 1lb in the Flemington feature, with Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner Murghem on 8st 11lb.
Royal Rebel had originally been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup, in which British-based horses Harbour Dues, Persian Punch, Taufan`s Melody and Central Park have all made the frame in the past three years.
But Johnston said: 'We were considering it again for Royal Rebel as his owner Peter Savill had inquiries about leasing the horse so we decided to wait and see when the weights came out.
'But when they came out Peter said to leave it alone as he has too much weight. And he probably will have again next year.'
Royal Rebel has only four horses above him in the handicap, of whom Godolphin`s pair Fantastic Light and Mutafaweq have both already been ruled out.
'I think they have overreacted to the European horses running well recently and the publicity surrounding races like the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Stakes,' Johnston said.
'It is very tall order against the top middle-distance horses and he has been weighted out of it.
'Murghem remains a possibility but he has probably been weighted out of it too - the weights are unrealistic.'
Johnston also reckons that his lightly-weighted Virgin Soldier - 254th in the list for the Melbourne Cup - is too low down the field to get a run.
