Weights for the ‘race that stops a nation’ the Melbourne Cup 2013 this November are now out with the early favourite Puissance De Lune allocated 54.5kg.

Current Melbourne Cup 2013 favourite Puissance De Lune has been allocated 54.5kg in the initial weights. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Running as Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 5, the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) has 134 hopefuls vying for a start in the capacity 24 starter final field.

Favourite of those is Darren Weir’s Shamardal grey Puissance De Lune, the five-year-old paying $7 in the latest Melbourne Cup betting odds after their narrow second to Foreteller in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last start on September 7.

Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager of Racing and Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter admitted that they had a tough time determining what weight to allocate the favourite who will be ridden by triple Melbourne Cup winning hoop Glen Boss.

The 2013 Melbourne Cup top-weight meanwhile is 2011 winner Dunaden who has been allocated 58.5kg.

Mikel Delzangles’ Nicobar stallion became the second French-trained horse in as many years, following Americain in 2010, to win the iconic Melbourne Cup when carrying 54.5kg to the tightest victory in history over Red Cadeaux.

They returned to defend their title last year but could only manage to finish 10 lengths away 14^th to the Lloyd Williams-owned Green Moon with a hefty 59kg on their back after earlier winning the Caulfield Cup.

Connections have confirmed the now seven-year-old will make a third Melbourne Cup Carnival appearance this spring following their unplaced run behind Japanese winner Orfevre in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp over the weekend.

If successful this spring Duanden will become the first legend since Peter Pan (1932-34) to win dual Melbourne Cups on non-consecutive years.

“Dunaden has been allotted the topweight for the second year running, however I have reduced his weight by 0.5kg to 58.5kg in recognition of the fact he was beaten almost 10 lengths by Green Moon in last year’s race when favourite,” Carpenter said.

“Whilst Dunaden enjoys a weight reduction, history still presents a significant challenge as no original topweight has won the Cup since Comic Court in 1950.

“In fact 20 of them have tried and not one of them has placed so he will rightly claim a place in history if triumphant.”

Runner-up to Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup with only 53.5kg, Red Cadeaux is also likely for another shot this year allocated 56.5kg.

They too were here last year when eighth with 55.5kg behind Green Moon.

Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Green Moon meanwhile had 54.5kg and this year goes up to 57.5kg as the second heaviest weighted galloper for the 2013 edition.

“Green Moon was allotted 53.5kg, but the record books will show that Brett Prebble rode 1kg overweight to win the 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup with 54.5kg,” Carpenter explained.

“From a handicapping viewpoint he rises 4kg to 57.5kg which is 0.5kg less than Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) were asked to carry the year after winning their Cup.”

Their highly fancied stablemate Sea Moon then has 56.5kg, the Beat Hollow stallion missing the start badly in their down under debut when 12^th of 14 in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Runner-up in the ‘race that stops a nation’ last November in their Australian debut, the Gai Waterhouse-trained import Fiorente is currently occupying the second line of Melbourne Cup betting now paying $8.

The son of Monson resumed for the season last Saturday at Moonee Valley and were the narrow winner of the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

“The Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente, who was most impressive winning the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes on Saturday, rises 1.5kg on his second placing 12 months ago, but does meet Green Moon 1.5kg better for that defeat,” Carpenter said.

“Fiorente is striving to become the fifth horse to win the Cup a year after running second, with grand mare Empire Rose the last to do it in 1988 when carrying 53.5kg to victory.”

Other top fancies in the latest Melbourne Cup odds and their weight allocations then include the aforementioned Sea Moon ($10), the Chris Waller-trained Queensland Derby champ Hawkspur ($14) with 53.5kg and the Luca Cumani-trained British galloper Mount Athos ($19) on 54kg which they had last year when fifth in the Cup.

Hawkspur is the top fancied four-year-old in this year’s Melbourne Cup, other notable chances that age being Murray Baker’s multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi It’s A Dundeel (56kg) who has the same allocation then four-year-old So You Think had in 2010 and the Mark Kavanagh-trained Super Cool (54.5kg).

Also in that group is Waller’s Australian Oaks champion Royal Descent with just 52kg.

Racing Victoria’s international recruiter Leigh Jordon believes there could be around six to eight final international Melbourne Cup acceptors this year, the 153^rd edition marking 20 years since its first international winner Vintage Crop – as pointed out by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Chairman Michael Burn.

“The release of the weights confirms the high quality of this year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup entries,” Burn said.

“We are excited to see such a depth of talent amongst the entries, both Australian and international, as we mark 20 years since the first international winner of the Cup, Vintage Crop.”

Outside of Mount Athos the next best fancied raiders are Brown Panther ($21) with 55kg, Marco Botti’s Australian-owned 54.5kg chance Dandino ($21), the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Royal Empire ($26) on 54kg and William Mullins’ 53.5kg light-weight Simenon ($26).

Melbourne Cup first acceptances are no due out on October 8 so stay tuned.

In the meantime why not get in on the awesome futures markets on all the spring Group 1’s including the Melbourne Cup open now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the country’s best range of horse racing markets.

2013 Melbourne Cup Weights

Flemington Race 7 – 05/11/2013