Americain, Dunaden top weights for Melbourne Cup

The past two Emirates Melbourne Cup winners, Americain and Dunaden, have been given equal top weight of 58kg in this year's race as they attempt to carve a unique piece in history on 6 November at Flemington.The French pair, who will arrive back in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final Day, are striving to become the first internationally-trained horses to win Australia's greatest race twice.Only five horses have won the Cup on more than one occasion, that being Makybe Diva (2003, 04, 05), Think Big (197

The past two Emirates Melbourne Cup winners, Americain and Dunaden, have been given equal top weight of 58kg in this year's race as they attempt to carve a unique piece in history on 6 November at Flemington.

The French pair, who will arrive back in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final Day, are striving to become the first internationally-trained horses to win Australia's greatest race twice.

Only five horses have won the Cup on more than one occasion, that being Makybe Diva (2003, 04, 05), Think Big (1974, 75), Rain Lover (1968, 69), Peter Pan (1932, 34) and Archer (1861, 62).

Since weights for the world-famous 3200-metre handicap went metric in 1972, 36 horses have carried 58kg or more with only Makybe Diva (58kg, 2005) and Think Big (58.5kg, 1975) successful.

In releasing the weights for the 152nd Cup, which carries total prize money of $6.2 million, Racing Victoria (RV) General Manager - Racing, Greg Carpenter, said that the French pair would face a challenge.

"The allocation of 58kg to both Americain and Dunaden represents a significant challenge to both horses, given only two horses have carried that weight or more to victory in the past 40 years," Carpenter said.

"The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden won the 2011 Melbourne Cup with 54.5kg and he rises 3.5kg in the weights to 58kg. This is the same progression Americain made after winning the 150th Cup in 2010.

"The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Americain ran an outstanding fourth behind Dunaden last year with 58kg, when beaten just under 1.5 lengths, and he takes the same weight this year."

Nine-year-old Efficient, who won the 2007 Cup when carrying 54.5kg, is the other past winner being aimed at this year's race. The Lloyd Williams-owned, Robert Hickmott-trained veteran has been allocated 55kg.

"No southern hemisphere nine-year-old has ever been placed in the Melbourne Cup, but Efficient's former stablemate Zipping came close in 2010 when finishing fourth with 55.5kg," Carpenter explained.

Red Cadeaux, the English stayer who was beaten by the narrowest margin in Cup history last year, is returning and has been allocated 55.5kg which represents a rise of 2kg.

"Only Empire Rose (1988), Gold And Black (1977) and Carbine (1890) have won the Cup after finishing second the previous year so Red Cadeaux will join one of the most select groups in Cup history if successful," Carpenter said.

Much interest also centred upon the weights allocated to the 14 internationals that are not entered for next month's BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) for which weights were released by Carpenter on 4 September.

Ireland's dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Dermot Weld has three of those entries with last start Ballyroan Stakes winner Galileo's Choice, who entered quarantine in his homeland last week, on 53.5kg.

"Galileo's Choice is a very progressive horse that has a similar profile to Dermot's first Cup winner Vintage Crop (1993) in that he's been successful both over the jumps and on the flat," Carpenter said.

Global racing powerhouse Godolphin and head trainer Saeed bin Suroor have been attempting to win the Melbourne Cup since 1998, but have had to settle for four minor placings.

Ascot Gold Cup winner Colour Vision is the highest weighted of their four entries on 55kg with Cavalryman on 54kg, Lost In The Moment on 53kg - the same weight he carried to sixth in last year's Cup - and Ebor Handicap winner Willing Foe on 52.5kg.

"Willing Foe emerged as a Melbourne Cup contender when winning the prestigious Ebor Handicap at York last month, where he defeated subsequent Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond. However, with 52.5kg he will be vulnerable in the ballot," Carpenter said, adding that horses on 52kg filled the final positions in last year's race.

The most intriguing Cup nomination is Australia's newly-crowned champion middle distance performer More Joyous who won her 20th race on Saturday, but is yet to race beyond 2040-metres.

"More Joyous has been allocated 56kg, but she is not yet passed the ballot. The only mare to carry more weight to victory in the race is Makybe Diva who carried 58kg in her third Cup win," Carpenter said.

The weights allocated to other key runners are as follows;

- Mount Athos - The nominal Melbourne Cup favourite, who is unbeaten in three starts for UK trainer Luca Cumani, has been allocated 54kg.

- Manighar - The imported galloper has won three Group 1 races since finishing fifth in the 2011 Melbourne Cup where he carried 54kg. He rises to 57kg this year.

- Green Moon - The headline horse amongst a big entry from multiple Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams. Last year's Caulfield Cup runner-up has been allocated 53.5kg.

- Jakkalberry - The Australian-owned American St Leger winner, who represents highly rated UK-based Italian trainer Marco Botti's first Melbourne Cup entry, has 55.5kg.

- Southern Speed - The 2011 Caulfield Cup winner, who is yet to race beyond 2400 metres, has been allocated 54.5kg

- Sanagas - The German-bred USA Group 1-winning import is the highest weighted of nine entries for Melbourne Cup maestro Bart Cummings with 54kg. His stablemates Precedence (53kg) and Illo (52.5kg), who contested the race last year, are also well in contention for a Cup start.

- Ethiopia - The highly rated ATC Derby winner has been allocated 53.5kg. He is the highest weighted four-year-old in the race.

- Niwot - The first Australian-bred horse home in last year's Cup when finishing eighth, he rises from 51kg to 53.5kg having won the 2012 Sydney Cup (3200m).

First acceptances for the Melbourne Cup, which attracted 151 entries, will be taken at 12 noon (AET) on Tuesday, 9 October 2012.

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