Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Americain could have a lead-up run in the Caulfield Cup after he received topweight in the world's richest 2400m turf handicap.Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter gave the French star 58kg, up 3.5kg for his Melbourne Cup victory, when weights were released on Tuesday for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup on October 15."The intention is for Americain to have one lead-up race in Australia on the way to the Melbourne Cup and it is up to the Melbourne Raci

Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Americain could have a lead-up run in the Caulfield Cup after he received topweight in the world's richest 2400m turf handicap.

Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter gave the French star 58kg, up 3.5kg for his Melbourne Cup victory, when weights were released on Tuesday for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup on October 15.

"The intention is for Americain to have one lead-up race in Australia on the way to the Melbourne Cup and it is up to the Melbourne Racing Club to convince connections that he should be in the Caulfield Cup," Carpenter said.

"The other race Americain could contest is the Cox Plate but the advantage of running in the Caulfield Cup is that he would have an extra week to recover before running in the Melbourne Cup 17 days later."

The Cox Plate is run on October 22 with the Melbourne Cup on November 1.

Carpenter said if Americain won the Caulfield Cup, connections could expect a Melbourne Cup penalty of around a kilogram.

Prepared by Alain de Royer-Dupre, seven-year-old Americain is the second-highest rated stayer in the world in 2011.

Viewed was the most recent Melbourne Cup winner to return the following year and win the Caulfield Cup.

He did so in 2009 with 57kg having been penalised four kilograms for his Melbourne Cup victory.

Americain, who arrives in Australia on September 24, will need to emulate West Australian star Northerly who was the last horse to carry 58kg to victory in the Caulfield Cup in 2002.

Defending Caulfield Cup champion Descarado, one of 12 Gai Waterhouse-trained entries in this year's race, received 56kg having carried 52.5kg to victory in the race last year.

"I have effectively penalised Descarado two kilograms for his victory in last year's race," Carpenter said.

"The other 1.5kg increase is for his progression on the weight-for-age scale from a four to five-year-old."

History, as well as an increased weight, will test Descarado if he pursues a title defence, with Rising Fast (1954-55) and Poseidon (1906-07) the only horses to claim successive Caulfield Cups.

Completing the top five weighted horses are the UK-trained US Breeders Cup winner Dangerous Midge (57.5kg), 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (57kg) and Japanese stayer Meiner Kitz (56kg) who is unlikely to make the trip.

Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer is the highest weighted four-year-old with 54kg and has the same weight 2004 Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem was given after winning the Derby the year before.

Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva received 53kg, marginally ahead of Playing God, Shootoff and Sincero who have all been allocated 52.5kg.

AJC Australian Derby winner Shamrocker, with 52kg, will have to equal the weight-carrying record by a four-year-old mare held by Leilani (1974) and How Now (1976).

Research was the last filly before Shamrocker to win the AJC Derby in 1989 and she was allocated 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup.

The Peter Moody-trained Australasian Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven, who is the $7 favourite for the Caulfield Cup and $11 top pick in the Melbourne Cup with TAB Sportsbet, received 51.5kg and has the same weight as stablemate and Memsie Stakes winner King's Rose.

AJC Australian Oaks winner Absolutely and VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse also received 51.5kg, while Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady got 51kg.

German horse Lucas Cranach, who has been well supported in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and will be trained by Anthony Freedman, received 53.5kg.

Tactician, owned by The Queen and trained in the UK by Michael Bell, received 53kg, the same weight as another Ebor Handicap runner-up, Carte Diamond, did in 2005.

Grand National Hurdle winner Black And Bent received 50.5kg, 0.5kg above the minimum weight, while import December Draw from the Mark Kavanagh stable, was given 50kg.

Melbourne Cup entries close on Thursday with weights released on September 13.