Admire Rakti swept past Rising Romance and the rest of the field to win Saturday's Caulfield Cup and looked like a horse who would not be troubled by an additional bit of weight for the Melbourne Cup.
But carrying weight over 3200m compared with even 2400m is a different equation. Over 3200m horses are carrying their weight for a longer distance and for more time; that is significant. So is a brutal racecourse like Flemington.
There is nowhere to hide halfway down the long home straight in a Melbourne Cup as many topweights have found.
Carpenter said yesterday that his decision whether to rehandicap Admire Rakti was the most difficult of his time as handicapper.
"Dunaden got a 1kg penalty for his 2012 Caulfield Cup win and had 59kg in the Melbourne Cup and wasn't able to win.
"Viewed got a 1kg penalty to 58kg for his 2009 Caulfield Cup win and he wasn't able to win at Flemington.
"So it is a difficult task to come to Flemington and win the race with a penalty."
However, he said, there have been few more impressive Melbourne Cup trials than Admire Rakti's effort to travel three wide and win the Caulfield Cup.
Carpenter had sleepless nights. "This is a very difficult decision I had to make," he said.
"When you look at the Caulfield Cup finish, Rising Romance had an amazingly good ride along the rails, Lucia Valentina tracked the winner, but she was still unable to pick him up.
"Admire Rakti was fourth in the Japan Cup last year, beaten only a length by [champion mare] Gentildonna giving her weight, which was an outstanding performance.
"He is a world-class 2400m horse on the evidence of his Japan Cup run and his win in the Caulfield Cup."
Connections of Admire Rakti reported on Sunday the horse had pulled up well, but has lost a bit of weight as you might expect.
But overall they are pleased with the way he has pulled up, and absolutely delighted with their success."
However they are not too happy with the penalty and have threatened to withdraw the $4.50 Melbourne Cup favourite.
Admire Rakti's country mate Bandi, who was scratched from the Caulfield Cup after injuring a tendon, is on his way back home.
Market: Admire Rakti $4.50, Protectionist $5.50, Lucia Valentina $8, Fawkner $13, Who Shot Thebarman $15, Brambles, Junoob $17; Red Cadeaux, Seismos, The Offer, Mutual Regard $21; Cavalryman, Willing Foe, Big Memory, Signoff $26; Noble Protector, Silent Achiever, Contributer (unlikely), Sertorius, Dandino, Lidari, Araldo $34; Lord Van Percy, Amralah, Royal Diamond $41.
Wait-and-see for Cup
• Admire Rakti was impressive in Caulfield win.
• Handicapper pondered before giving him an extra half kilo.
• Think Big in 1975 was the last horse to successfully lump 58kg.
