Efficient and Maldivian Head the 2009 Melbourne Cup Weights

The Melbourne Cup weights were announced on Tuesday 1 September. Efficient, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2007, and Maldivian, who won last years Cox Plate, are equal topweights for this years Cup with 58kg. This is the lowest original topweight since 1990, and an original topweight has not won the Cup since Comic Court in 1950.

Last years winner Viewed has been given 57kg which is a rise of 4kg over his weight last year. The highest rated overseas horses have also been given 57kg with Eastern Anthem and Schiaparelli both given this weight. Both belong to the Godolphin stable. The early Cup favourite Profound Beauty has been allocated 53.5kg which is a 2kg increase over the weight she carried when running fifth last year.

The Gai Waterhouse mare Tuesday Joy has been allocated the highest weight of the mares, with 54.5kg. This is the same allocated to her in 2008. The only mare to win with this type of weight was Makybe Diva who carried 55.5kg in 2004 and 58kg in 2005. Giant mare Empire Rose carried 53.5kg when she won in 1988.

English trainer Luca Cumani has trained the runner-up of the last two Melbourne Cups with Purple Moon and Bauer. His two entries this year are Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico and they have been allocated weights of 55.5kg and 51.5kg respectively.

There are a couple of horses who seem to have done well at the weights. One of them is C’est La Guerre who ran third last year with 54kg and only rises 1.5kg which is the natural rise in weight as he moves from a four-year-old to a five-year-old under the weight-for-age scale. Daffodil, the long-priced winner of last years AJC Oaks has been allocated 51.5kg which is 5kg under weight-for-age.

Jo Jackson

Latest Melbourne Cup Odds @ Centrebet Bonus Offer: $150 Free Bet