Today’s Lexus Stakes winner Maluckyday has received a 1kg penalty for the 2010 Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, November 2.

The classy Hawkes-trained Zabeel gelding is now exempt from Melbourne Cup ballot, along with Cox Plate winner So You Think and Caulfield Cup champion Descarado.

The penalty has pushed Maluckyday’s Melbourne Cup weight up to 51kg, still an excellent lightweight chance at the bottom of the weights, if connections accept him for the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field today.

Last year the Lexus Stakes was won by Shocking, who went on to win the 2009 Melbourne Cup and in a strange omen Shocking carried 51kg to victory.

“I want to emphasise that in relation to Linton, Once Were Wild and Moudre that if one or any of those horses go into the Cup, he’ll (Maluckyday) will actually be meeting them 1.5kg worse at the weight from today,” Racing Victoria’s Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter said.

Betting on the 2010 Melbourne Cup will reopen at Luxbet shortly so get ready to lock in the best odds by signing up with them now!