Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Rakti has been penalised 0.5 kilograms for his win in the Caulfield Cup giving him the top weight of 58.5kgs for the $6.2 million race on November 4. The big question now is whether he will run in the big race, given his owner's threat to scratch him if he was given a penalty.
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 the top weight of 58kgs 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 given a penalty for the Caulfield cup win.
Kondo had said before the penalty was announced it was important for him to look after the horse's welfare with other races including the Japan Cup on November 30 also on the agenda.