On the limit – Melbourne Cup change sees lightweights surge

A change in how weights are allocated for the Melbourne Cup has seen a historically high percentage of horses allocated the lightest possible impost for the $10 million race on November 4.

Weights for all 120 nominated horses were released on Tuesday by Racing Victoria, with a guaranteed top weight of 59kg for the first time. The limit weight rose to 51kg, with the exception of southern hemisphere-bred three-year-olds, of which there were none nominated for the race.

It meant that 73 of those 120 horses, or 60.8 per cent, were given 51kg, eight kilograms less than Al Riffa and Via Sistina, who topped the weights at 59kg.

Last year, upon the release of the weights, just 50.4 per cent of the nominated horses were on the limit weight, while in 2023 it was 56.4 per cent. This year’s limit weight percentage is the highest in at least eight years and may well be the highest of all time given the number of weighted cups horses has shrunk in recent eyes as weights have been released later in September.

Horses handicapped on limit weight in Melbourne Cup nominations

Of the 120 in the field, 41 are yet to pass the ballot clause, including the multiple Group 1 winners Anisette and Militarize, who have 54kg and 53kg respectively.

It was no surprise to see Al Riffa on top of the weights after his dominant win in the Irish St Leger on Sunday. Now owned by Australian bloodstock, the Joseph O’Brien trained stayer is clear favourite for November’s Cup.

Reigning Australian Horse Of the Year Via Sistina has the same weight, but would appear unlikely to contest the race given her target is a second Cox Plate.

Neither of those horses are entered for the Caulfield Cup, meaning all horses in that race have been allocated 2kg more to meet the requirement of a minimum 59kg topweight.

It is also a condition of both Cups that the final field is declared with a minimum topweight of 57kg meaning weights may also be raised at that time.

Buckaroo and Light Infantry Man were both elevated to 59kg for the Caulfield Cup, while Vauban and Arapaho came next on 58.5kg. Buckaroo has 57kg in the Melbourne Cup, while Vauban and Arapaho have 56.5kg for the Flemington feature.

Al Riffa dominates Irish St Leger, while Asfoora fails to fire in Flying Five

Al Riffa has established himself as top seed for the 2025 Melbourne Cup, with the recent Australian Bloodstock purchase now a $7 chance to give trainer Joseph O’Brien his third win in the famous Flemington race after an impressive victory in the Irish St Leger.

The StraightBren O’Brien

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice has been allotted 55kg – an increase of 3.5kg from 2024.

“This year marks a change in Group 1 handicapping in Victoria, where the topweights must now be assigned 59kg and the minimum weight for older horses is 51kg, which represents a 1kg increase overall in the weight structure compared to recent years,” RV’s head of handicapping David Hegan said.

“The topweights for the Melbourne Cup are clear cut, with Via Sistina and Al Riffa both set 59kg which is the new minimum topweight requirement in both cups. However, they are two different competitors with contrasting form lines.

“Via Sistina’s record speaks for itself, and she carries the single best performance rating of any nominated horse following her dominant eight-length win in last year’s Cox Plate. Her class is clear in races up to 2000m, with the staying challenge of two miles the only major query.”

The current Melbourne Cup second favourite, Sir Delius, has been assigned 55.5kg while stablemate Alalcance sits on 53kg.

Along with Via Sistina and Buckaroo and the two mentioned earlier, Chris Waller, who has 27 of the 120 entrants, has Yulong-owned trio Moira (55kg), Full Count Felicia (53.5kg) and River of Stars (51.5kg), along with ATC Derby winner Aeliana (53kg).

There are four horses guaranteed entry into the Melbourne Cup with Basilinna (51kg), Revelare (51.5kg), Deakin (52kg) and Parchment Party (52kg) all having won ballot-free races.

Group 1 English St Leger winner Scandinavia has been assigned 55.5kg.

Second acceptances for the Caulfield Cup will close at 12pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, September 23, with first acceptances for the Melbourne Cup taken one week later on Tuesday September 30.

Melbourne Cup weights