Lexus Hotham Stakes Penalty Announcement
Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, has announced that today’s Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes (2500m) winner Ashrun has not been issued a weight penalty in the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The Andreas Wohler-trained Ashrun, who has secured a ballot exemption in the 160th edition of Australia’s most famous race at Flemington on Tuesday, will carry 53kg after being handed no penalty.
Carpenter said: “It was an impressive but narrow victory in the Hotham today for Ashrun. With 53kg in the Cup, and given the margin today, no penalty has been issued.”
There have been 10 horses to complete the Hotham Stakes-Melbourne Cup double with 102 Hotham winners being unsuccessful in the Cup.
The last horse to complete the double was Shocking in 2009 who was not penalised for his Hotham win and carried 51kg to victory three days later.
Prior to 2007 the winner of the Hotham Handicap could not be re-handicapped.
Final declarations for the Melbourne Cup close at 4.30pm (AEDT) this afternoon with the field to be released by the Victoria Racing Club thereafter.