The official Melbourne Cup 2023 weights have been announced for the two-mile classic at headquarters on November 7.

Reigning champion Gold Trip heads the 2023 Melbourne Cup weights with 58.5kg. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The defending champion Gold Trip will carry the 58.5kg top-weight should he return to Flemington on the first Tuesday of November looking to go back-to-back in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Outstrip entire won the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) last spring in an upset with 57.5kg.

That was the heaviest weight carried to victory by a Melbourne Cup winner since the heroic third straight victory by the mighty mare Makybe Diva with 58kg in 2005.

Gold Trip will need to carry a kilo more than his winning weight from 2022 if he is accepted for a title defence in the $8.41 million classic this year.

It would be a big ask with the last stayer to carrying 58.5kg to victory being the Bart Cummings-trained Think Big for his second in 1975.

Two horses have been allocated the next heaviest weight of 56.5kg by Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping David Hegan with the Michael Moroney-trained import Alenquer and Irish raider Broome from maestro horseman Aidan O’Brien.

“We have effectively lifted Gold Trip two kilograms from his true weight last year, which is less than the penalty afforded other Melbourne Cup winners in recent times, however, we are mindful that it is 48 years since a horse has carried 58.5kg to victory in either Cup so a significant challenge awaits,” Hegan told Racing.com.

Current all-in favourite in Melbourne Cup betting at $7 through Ladbrokes.com.au is Vauban who has been allocated 55kg.

The Willie Mullins-trained raider is a dour stayer with a trio of hurdle victories in 2022 before the son of Galiway proved his versatility with two good flat race victories this year.

He was last seen taking out the Group 3 Ballyroan over 2414m with 61kg in August, and he is one of the best performing two-milers in the mix with a gun overall record over the 3200m (5:2-2-1).

Currently three horses are exempt from Melbourne Cup ballot with the imported Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Goldman (52kg), Grahame Begg’s Fiorente mare Lunar Flare (51.5kg) and Mullins’ other nominee Absurde (53kg) all potential light-weight chances.

Emissary ran second in last year’s event and has been allocated 52kg, while the Maher/Eustace third placed mare from 2022 High Emocean has 50kg.

“Imports like Soulcombe, Francesco Guardi, Hoo Ya Mal and Just Fine, the Roy Higgins winner Goldman and last season’s Derby winners Kovalica, Major Beel and Sharp ‘N’ Smart, all sit in the 52kg to 54kg range and have demonstrated the ability to be highly competitive,” Hegan said.

The Chris Waller-trained duo of Soulcombe (53.5kg) and Francesco Guardi (54kg) occupying the second and third line of pre-field Melbourne Cup betting at $9 and $10 respectively.

The other past Melbourne Cup winner in the mix is Danny O’Brien’s 2019 champion Vow And Declare with 53kg.

He carried 52kg to victory three years ago, was a disappointing 18^th in 2020 with 57kg, and ran 10^th to Gold Trip carrying 54.5kg last year.

Gold Trip also tops the 2023 Caulfield Cup weights which were released today with 58.5kg.

The aforementioned Waller stablemates Francesco Guardi and Soulcombe head all-in Caulfield Cup markets at $9 each for the October 21 feature and have been allocated 54kg and 53.5kg respectively.

Click here for the updated Melbourne Cup 2023 odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of first acceptances on October 3.

Caulfield Cup 2023 second acceptances close a week earlier on September 26.

2023 Melbourne Cup Weights

Table Credit: Racing Australia.