Okita Soushi issued 1kg Melbourne Cup penalty

Racing Victoria Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, has announced that Friday night’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) winner Okita Soushi has received a 1kg penalty in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The Ciaron Maher-trained import, who will be ridden by Jamie Kah in the Melbourne Cup, has been lifted from his original weight of 50kg to 51kg. It is 0.5kg less than the horse carried to 11th place in the 2023 Melbourne Cup when trained by Joseph O’Brien.

Hegan explained: “Okita Soushi enjoyed the strongly run Moonee Valley Gold Cup and produced a sustained run to take control of the race at the turn before holding off the fast-finishing Serpentine who is not in the Melbourne Cup.

“Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup Okita Soushi carried the minimum weight, but the commanding nature of the win and his performance rating dictates a penalty must be allocated.

“The 1kg penalty is all about where it takes Okita Soushi in the weights order relative to those who he’s competing against. Friday night’s third placegetter Sharp ‘n’ Smart will receive a 1.5kg swing to his advantage in the Melbourne Cup as a result.”

The penalty issued to Okita Soushi is 0.5kg more than that afforded to last year’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Cleveland, with the previous two winners not entered in the Melbourne Cup. The last Moonee Valley Gold Cup winners to receive a 1kg penalty were Precedence in 2013 and Vatuvei in 2012.

Third acceptances for the Melbourne Cup were taken at 10am (AEDT) on Monday. A total of 35 horses remain in contention, with final acceptances to be taken at 4.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, November 2.

The Melbourne Cup Order of Entry has been updated following third acceptances, with Okita Soushi moving to 17th position following his penalty.

Okita Soushi is currently a $21 chance with online bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup.

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