Exciting Irish stayer Al Riffa and Australia’s reigning Racehorse of the Year Via Sistina share top billing in the Melbourne Cup weights after Tuesday’s release of handicaps for the $10 million event.
Racing Victoria’s handicapping team compiled the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup weights under a new framework in 2025 in which topweights for both races are required to receive a minimum of 59kg.
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Al Riffa and Via Sistina head the Melbourne Cup weights with 59kg despite the pair having contrasting formlines.
Al Riffa cemented his place at the top of Melbourne Cup betting with his win in last Sunday’s Irish St Leger while Via Sistina is a star of the Australian weight-for-age scene.
“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,” Hegan said.
“Her class is clear in races up to 2000m, with the staying challenge of two miles the only major query,” Hegan said.
“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.”
Via Sistina is the equal topweight with Al Riffa for the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images
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Hegan said Al Riffa’s dominant Irish St Leger win had little impact on the Joseph O’Brien-trained stayer’s Melbourne Cup handicap.
Last year’s shock Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice, who saluted with 51.5kg last November, would need to carry 55kg for his attempt to win successive Cups.
Vauban, who has been well in the market in the last two Melbourne Cups, and Sydney Cup winner Arapaho have 56.5kg in the great race.
Because of the new handicapping rules, the Caulfield Cup has different top weights to the Melbourne Cup.
Gilbert Gardiner and Racing Victoria Boss Paul Bloodworth dissect the Melbourne Cup weights and the biggest winners from today’s announcement 👀 pic.twitter.com/xMQyuZ3q0t
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Al Riffa and Via Sistina were not entered for the Caulfield Cup, meaning Group 1 winners Buckaroo and Light Infantry Man are the joint topweights for the October 18 event.
The pair was originally handicapped at 57kg for the Melbourne Cup but all Caulfield Cup weights were raised 2kg to comply with the revised weight condition.
“In the Caulfield Cup, Light Infantry Man and Buckaroo are the standout Group 1 weight-for-age performers and carry the highest international rating performance,” Hegan said.
“Both horses are therefore allotted 59kg in the Caulfield Cup, which is the equivalent of weight-for-age.”
Click here for the full Caulfield Cup order of entry or here for the full Melbourne Cup order of entry.