Via Sistina and Al Riffa declared topweights after Lexus Melbourne Cup weights released

Last year’s fairytale Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice has been allotted 55kg – an increase of 3.5kg from 2024 – for his bid to become the first horse to retain his Melbourne Cup title since Makybe Diva achieved the feat 20 years ago. 

“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 stated

“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.

“Al Riffa was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger on Sunday. He has now won Group 1 races at distances ranging from 1400m to 2800m and follows other recent winners of the Irish St Leger in Sonnyboyliston (2021) and Order Of St George (2017) in being at the top of the Melbourne Cup weights.

“Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Knight’s Choice carried 51.5kg last year so when factoring in the new weight scale, he effectively moves up 2.5kg, even though he’s assigned 55kg. Comparatively, two other lightweight winners in the past decade, Almandin (52kg) and Prince of Penzance (53kg), both progressed 3.5kg the following year from their victories." - RV’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan

In addition to Vauban, 2013 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott prepare the current second favourite, Sir Delius, who has been assigned 55.5kg and talented mare Alalcance who sits on 53kg.

Chris Waller, the 2021 winning trainer, has 27 of the 120 entrants for this year’s renewal with Via Sistina and Buckaroo joined by high-class Yulong-owned trio Moira (55kg), Full Count Felicia (53.5kg) and River Of Stars (51.5kg), along with ATC Derby (2400m) heroine Aeliana (53kg).

The four horses guaranteed a place in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup after winning ballot exempt races are Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) winner Basilinna (51kg), impressive last-start Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) victor Revelare (51.5kg), Lexus Roy Higgins winner Deakin (52kg) and dominant Belmont Gold Cup (2816m) victor, Parchment Party (52kg). The latter, who is trained by USA Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by legendary jockey Johnny Velasquez, is set to become the first American-trained horse to contest Australia’s most iconic race. 

Aside from Al Riffa and Belmont Gold Cup (2816m) winner Parchment Party, USA-bred Scandinavia creates much international interest in the Melbourne Cup entries after his impressive victory in the Group 1 English St Leger (2921m) over the weekend for revered Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The exciting northern hemisphere three-year-old has been assigned 55.5kg, representing 1kg below the weight-for-age scale and taking into account his Group 1 win against older horses in the Goodwood Cup (3200m). The weight is 0.5kg more above the minimum weight than two of Aidan O’Brien’s previous St Leger winners, Kew Gardens (2018) and Jan Brueghel (2024), were allotted in the Melbourne Cup as three-year-olds.

The weight allotted to other international entries of note includes 55.5kg to Japanese contender Chevalier Rose, 53.5kg to German entrant Flatten The Curve, 52kg to England’s 2024 Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator, and 51.5kg to Al Riffa’s Irish stablemate Goodie Two Shoes who will be a first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner for legendary Irish owner JP McManus.

Irish stayer Absurde (53.5kg), who has contested the past two Melbourne Cups for Irish trainer Willie Mullins, is one of nineteen overseas raiders targeting the Lexus Melbourne Cup, with Presage Nocturne – who is trained in France by Italian horseman Alessandro Botti – set to carry 55.5kg.

British trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, who finished runner-up in 2023 with West Wind Blows, have Meydaan (54kg) in quarantine, while six-year-old mare Golden Snap (51.5kg), will be looking to emulate the feats of the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Delta Blues who beat stablemate Pop Rock to the line in the 2006 Melbourne Cup.

For the full list of Lexus Melbourne Cup weights and the Order of Entry as at 16 September 2025, please click here.

First declarations for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup close at 12pm on Tuesday 30 September.

Five golden tickets remain to secure a ballot exemption in the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup:

•  VRC Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) – October 4
• MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) - October 18
• GRC Geelong Cup (2400m) - October 22
• MVRC Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) - October 24
• MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) - October 25

For more golden ticket information, click here.