The Japanese-owned Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti has been confirmed as a starter for next month's Melbourne Cup despite being penalised an extra half-kilogramme for winning the leadup race last Saturday.
Fiorente wins 2013 Melbourne Cup Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The seven-year old stallion's owner Riichi Kondo had said after Saturday's win he would consider pulling his horse out of the Melbourne Cup if he was given more weight.
But organisers say the horse's connections have confirmed that Admire Rakti will start at Flemington on November the 4th.
Caulfield Cup winners are traditionally given a weight penalty for the Melbourne Cup and the last to escape one was Ming Dynasty in 1980.
The last Melbourne Cup winner to carry more than 58kg was Think Big in 1975.
The 0.5-kilo 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 58 kilos or more but only Makybe Diva, carrying 58 kilos 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
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 2,400 metres 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 52.5 kilos to win in 1965.
