Racing Victoria released the weights for the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Thursday, September 17, with defending champion Half Yours allotted the 59kg topweight for the A$10 million two-mile handicap at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding, who won last year’s race carrying 53kg, faces a stiff historical task: no horse has won the Melbourne Cup with 59kg or more since Rain Lover in 1969, and all 18 horses to try since the switch to metric weights in 1972 have failed. Race conditions introduced last year require the topweight to be at least 59kg when the weights are first released, with the minimum weight raised from 50kg to 51kg. “It is a very difficult task, when you look at the perspective of history, but you’ve got to take into account the new conditions,” Racing Victoria chief handicapper David Hegan said. Tony McEvoy said the weight was expected and confirmed: “We’ll run the horse, he is a big, strong fellow.”
Light Infantry Man (58.5kg), Aeliana (58kg), Birdman (58kg) and Sons And Lovers (57.5kg) come next in the handicap. Sons And Lovers is the highest-weighted of an 11-strong entry from Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, who is chasing a third win in the race. His team also includes Deauville Group 2 winner Defiantly (56.5kg), last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes (55kg), Saturday’s St Leger winner Highwayman (56.5kg) and Epsom Derby third James J Braddock (53.5kg), who will be ridden by 2019 Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams.
Among other internationals, Japanese hope Stinger Glass and Trustyourinstinct were both given 57kg, American Belmont Gold Cup winner Tawny Port has 55.5kg, and Aidan O’Brien’s Derby winner Christmas Day was allotted 56.5kg. Shockletz, who booked his place in the field by winning The Archer last Saturday, is at the bottom of the handicap on 51kg.
The Caulfield Cup weights were released at the same time, with Sir Delius, who was not nominated for the Melbourne Cup, the 59kg topweight ahead of Half Yours on 57.5kg. Victoria Racing Club chief racing officer Leigh Jordon said the “win-and-you’re-in” races over the coming weeks would now become increasingly important as the final Melbourne Cup field takes shape.
