Melbourne Cup
weights announced

AIDAN O'BRIEN'S Ebor Handicap runner-up Changingoftheguard would shoulder just 50.5kg (8st) if he lines up foran assault on the Melbourne Cup in November, according to the weights announced by Racing Victoria Limited's handicapper Grey Carpenter on Wednesday.

Also among O'Brien's four entries is the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Age of Aquarius, who would carry 51kg.

Both three-year-olds are likely to have their next outing in the Ladbrokes St Leger and the trainer said: "The plan at the moment is for Age Of Aquarius and Changingoftheguard to run in the Ladbrokes St Leger all being well."

Since 1993, when Vintage Crop became the first foreign trained raider to land the race that stops the nation, the only Australian-trained horse to top the weights for the 2m contest has been Northerly, who shouldered 60kgs (9st 6lb) in 2004.

That trend has been doubly reversed this year, with the 2007 victor Efficient and last season's Group 1 Cox Plate winner Maldivian setto carry joint top weight of 58kgs.

Efficient had been awarded top weight of 58kg last year, only to miss the race through injury. John Sadler's six-year-old is aiming to become the first horse to win two Cups having missed the interceding year since Peter Pan in 1932 and 1934.

Viewed gave Cups King Bart Cummings his 12th victory last year and he will carry 57kgs as he bids to bring up lucky number 13.

His weight is a 4kg increase on last year, a move defended by Carpenter.

He said: "The 4kg increase given to Viewed is the same penalty applied to previous winners such as Media Puzzle, Kingston Rule, Black Knight, andGold And Black in the modern era. It is slightly less than the penalty given to Makybe Diva after her initial success and a similar penalty to that issued to Think Big when taking into account the weight-for-age component."

Godolphin's Dubai Sheema Classic winner Eastern Anthem and Goodwood Cup victor Schiaparelli are the highest weighted of the European entries, with both given 57kg, while their stablemate Kirklees will carry 56kg.

Luca Cumani, who has come heartbreakingly close to victory in the last two years with Bauer and Purple Moon, has two entries this year for the A$5.6m contest at Flemington.

Cima de Triomphe, who defeated Conduit by a nose in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard in May, has been allocated 55.5kg, while stablemate Basaltico has been given 51.5kg.

Dermot Weld knows exactly what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and he has a three-pronged entry this year, with the Group 3 winning mare Profound Beauty set to shoulder the biggest weight at 53.5kg.

"The 2kg increase for Profound Beauty reflects the progression she has demonstrated in Ireland this year being undefeated in her three starts," Carpenter stated.

"It is the same weight Empire Rose carried to victory in 1988 and the only mare to win the Melbourne Cup with more is Makybe Diva."

Weld said: "Profound Beauty's well and it was about what I expected. The plan is to go for the Irish St Leger as long as the ground isn't soft. She missed the race last year because of the ground and she would miss it again if the ground wasn't suitable."

Marcus Tregoning's Lonsdale Cup victor Askar Tau has been awarded 53.5, while Sir Michael Stoute's two challengers Doctor Freemantle and Warringah have been allocated 55kg and 52.5kg respectively.

Rounding out the challengers from Britain and Ireland are Gary Moore's Mourilyan (54.5kg) and the Ian Williams-trained Munsef (53kg).

Unsung Heroine, trained by Tommy Stack to second place in last year's St Leger and now in training in Australia with David Hayes, will carry 53kgs, while the highest weighted mare in the contest is Gai Waterhouse's four time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy on 54.5kg.

Takeover Target's Listed winning half-brother Predatory Pricer has been allocated 53.5kgs, while last year's Victoria and South Australian Derbys winner Rebel Raider and AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor will carry 54kg. Guineas winners Whobegotyou and Metal Bender will carry the same weight.