Almandin gets 1kg Melbourne Cup penalty

Kerrin McEvoy’s task aboard Almandin in the Melbourne Cup has been made easier after the stayer was penalised for his Bart Cummings win at Flemington.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter has given Almandin a kilogram for Sunday’s win, taking him to 51kg.

Real Love, winner of the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Friday night and Sir John Hawkwood who won the the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, have also been re-handicapped for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Real Love was penalised half a kilo taking her to 52kg while Sir John Hawkwood will now carry 53kg in both races after being penalised 1.5kg.

“Sir John Hawkwood’s penalty of 1.5kg is the same as that which was handed to Junoob in 2014 before he finished seventh in that year’s Caulfield Cup behind Admire Rakti,” Carpenter said.

“Tawqeet is the last horse to complete the Metropolitan Handicap – Caulfield Cup double a decade ago. He was handed a one kilogram penalty in 2006, and as such, subsequently carried 53.5kg to victory at Caulfield.”

McEvoy was confirmed as Almandin’s rider on Monday with the Lloyd Williams-owned horse to go to the Melbourne Cup without another run.

His win in the Bart Cummngs earned him a ballot exemption in the Cup.

Almandin sits on the third line of Melbourne Cup betting at $13 behind Turnbull Stakes one-two Hartnell ($7) and Jameka ($9).

Carpenter did not re-handicap Hauraki in the Melbourne Cup following his Epsom Handicap victory at Randwick on Saturday.