2025 Melbourne Cup Weights - Al Riffa handed top-weight after runaway Irish St Leger success
Al Riffa has matched Via Sistina’s performance rating after winning the Irish St Leger and will carry the joint highest weight (59kg) in the 2025 Melbourne Cup under newly updated weight regulations. This places both atop a competitive field as Racing Victoria increases topweights and minimum weights for older horses. Other notable weights include Knight's Choice at 55kg and Scandinavia at 55.5kg. Over 100 entrants have had weights assigned, with only four guaranteed runners at this early stage. The changes mark a new era in Melbourne Cup handicapping, raising the competition among international stars.
- Al Riffa & Via Sistina top 2025 Melbourne Cup weights with 59kg
- Racing Victoria updates Group 1 handicapping rules: new topweight 59kg, minimum for older horses 51kg
- Over 100 entrants assigned weights; four runners guaranteed spots through qualifying wins
Al Riffa has been handed the same rating as top mare Via Sistina after his superb victory in the Irish St Leger, meaning both would top the weights in the 2025 Melbourne Cup.
On his first start in the colours of Australian Bloodstock, Al Riffa produced a dominant performance in the Irish St Leger. Joseph O'Brien's star was backed into favouritism ahead of Illinois before the off and Al Riffa went on to rout the competition, streaking four lengths clear of the field late on under Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Given his new connections, a tilt at the Melbourne Cup now seems likely and Al Riffa's victory on Sunday didn't go unmissed down under. On Tuesday morning, the weights were revealed for the 2025 Melbourne Cup, for which Al Riffa will have to carry top-weight alongside star mare Via Sistina.
Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan said, “This year marks a change in Group 1 handicapping in Victoria, where the topweights must now be assigned 59kg and the minimum weight for older horses is 51kg, which represents a 1kg increase overall in the weight structure compared to recent years.”
“The topweights for the Melbourne Cup are clear cut, with Via Sistina and Al Riffa both set 59kg which is the new minimum topweight requirement in both Cups. However, they are two different competitors with contrasting form lines.”
“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. Her class is clear in races up to 2000m, with the staying challenge of two miles the only major query.”
“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.”
Defending Melbourne Cup champion, Knight's Choice was handed a weight of 55kg - 3.5kg more than the lowly weight he carried to victory 12 months ago. Goodwood Cup and St Leger winner, Scandinavia will shoulder 55.5kg - if Aidan O'Brien decides to send his budding stayer over to Australia.
Japanese raider, Chevalier Rose will shoulder 55.5kg if Hishashi Shimizu's star takes up their entry. British raiders Further, Epic Poet, Tabletalk and Meydaan feature in the weights.
Weights were allocated to over 100 Melbourne Cup entrants. The only guaranteed runners at this stage are Revelare, Basilinna, Deakin and Parchment Party, following their victories in "win and you're in" races.
2025 Melbourne Cup Weights - Selected Runners
| Name | Melbourne Cup Weight |
|---|---|
| Al Riffa | 59kg |
| Via Sistina | 59kg |
| Buckaroo | 57kg |
| Arapaho | 56.5kg |
| Vauban | 56.5kg |
| Chevalier Rose | 55.5kg |
| Presage Nocturne | 55.5kg |
| Sir Delius | 55.5kg |
| Scandinavia | 55.5kg |
| Knights Choice | 55kg |
| Augusts | 55kg |
| Kovalica | 55kg |
| Moira | 55kg |
| Epic Poet | 54.5kg |
| Middle Earth | 54.5kg |
| Le Crique | 54.5kg |
| Meydaan | 54kg |
| Tabletalk | 54kg |
| Treasurethe Moment | 54kg |
| Absurde | 53.5kg |
| Flatten The Curve | 53.5kg |
| Aeliana | 53kg |
| Further | 52kg |
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