Updated
Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Rakti has been penalised 0.5 kilograms for his win in the Caulfield Cup, giving him the top weight of 58.5kg for the $6.2 million race on November 4.
If the Japanese galloper manages to win Australia's biggest race he will carry the biggest weight since the Bart Cummings-trained Think Big won in 1975.
Admire Rakti carried 58kg to win the Caulfield Cup when he charged down the outside to snatch the race from Kiwi mare Rising Romance.
His owner Riichi Kondo had threatened to scratch Admire Rakti from the Melbourne Cup if he was given a penalty, but later on Monday afternoon confirmed the horse would run.
Punters have not been put off by the extra 0.5kg with Admire Rakti remaining a clear favourite for the Melbourne Cup at $4.
Racing Victoria executive general manager for racing, Greg Carpenter, said the authority of Admire Rakti's win warranted a penalty.
"While the Caulfield Cup was not run in fast time, Admire Rakti was enormously impressive making a long sustained run down the middle of the track," Carpenter said.
"He was strong through the line at the end of 2400m, suggesting that 3200m at Flemington would be to his liking.
"In making a decision on whether to penalise the horse in the Melbourne Cup for his maiden Group 1 triumph, I had to strike a balance between the terms on which those that finished behind him at Caulfield would meet him next start, and the new wave of rivals that awaits him at Flemington."
The 0.5kg penalty was the lowest issued to a Caulfield Cup winner since Ming Dynasty escaped penalty in 1980.
Since Think Big won in 1975, 33 horses have run in the Melbourne Cup with 58kg or more but only Makybe Diva, carrying 58kg in 2005, has managed to win.
Melbourne Cup betting
Admire Rakti $4.00
Protectionist $5.50
Lucia Valentina $8
Fawkner $13
Brambles $16
Junoob $16
The Offer $18
Mutual Regard $21
Who Shot Thebarman $21
Willing Foe $21
Others $26 or more
Carpenter did point out that under the Australian Rules of Racing the top weighted horse in the Melbourne Cup was required to have at least 58kg.
"Admire Rakti was considered the best performed horse amongst the entries and was allocated 58kg, but in any other year over the past decade he would likely have been allocated less weight," he said.
"In accordance with the need to declare a 58kg top weight on September 16, the weights of most horses, including Admire Rakti, were 2kg higher than they would have been in any other year."
Admire Rakti's original weight in the Caulfield Cup was 56kg but the weights of all runners were raised 2kg at the time of acceptances.
Meanwhile, the connections of Caulfield Cup third placegetter Lucia Valentina indicated the mare would start in the Melbourne Cup.
Trainer Kris Lees said he was confident the Turnbull Stakes winner would run out the 3,200m at Flemington based on the way she finished strongly over the 2,400m at Caulfield.
Lucia Valentina will set a weight carrying record for a four-year-old mare with Light Fingers currently holding that record when she carried 52.5kg to win in 1965.
Topics: sport, horse-racing, melbourne-3000, vic, australia
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