What jockey weight is best to win the Melbourne Cup?

Makybe Diva Glen Boss
Makybe Diva stands alone as the greatest Melbourne Cup horse, having won it three times.

When looking into who will win the Melbourne Cup there are plenty of factors to play, one of these being what jockey weight has won the most Melbourne Cups. Here at HorseBetting we have put together a table of all Melbourne Cup wins by weight to help you narrow down on who will win the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

Heaviest weight carried by a Melbourne Cup winner

By far the biggest weight for a Melbourne Cup winner was Carbine’s 10st 5lb in 1890, which translates to about 65.8kg in the new money. The Barb lugged a whopping 73kg back in the 1869 Melbourne Cup but failed to make the places, while Phar Lap hauled 68kg when running eighth in 1931.

Since the turn of the millennium, Makybe Diva’s 58kg effort in 2005 is comfortably the biggest weight for a Melbourne Cup winner. That is also the biggest winning weight carried by a mare in the history of the great race.

The last top weight to win was the 2022 Melbourne Cup when Gold Trip with 57.5kg.

Lightest weight carried by a Melbourne Cup winner

The lightest weight carried by a Melbourne Cup winner was on Banker in 1863 with Sam Waldock riding at 33.5kg.

As of March 2016 the new weight scale came into affect which means the lightest we will ever see a jockey ride in the Melbourne Cup again is 50kg, with that being said the last time a horse won at 50kg was in 1999 when Rogan Josh won with John Marshall on his back.

Who is the top weight in the 2024 Melbourne Cup?

William Buick will carry the heaviest weight of 55.5kg as he tries to steer Vauban to first second Melbourne Cup win.

Who is the lightest weight in the 2024 Melbourne Cup?

Ron Stewart, Teo Nugent, Declan Bates, Karis Teetan, Ms Winona Costin, Tyler Schiller, Ms Rachel King and Mark Du Plessis are all set to carry 50kg.

2024 Melbourne Cup Final Field

Vauban Silks

1. Vauban (11)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: William Buick
  • W: 55.5kg
  • F: 21342
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galiway (GB)
  • Dam: Waldfest (GB)
Buckaroo Silks

2. Buckaroo (21)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Joao Moreira
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 22118
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Roheryn (IRE)
Circle Of Fire Silks

3. Circle Of Fire (24)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Mark Zahra
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 098×1
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Fiery Sunset (GB)
Warp Speed Silks

4. Warp Speed (3)

  • T: Noboru Takagi
  • J: Akira Sugawara
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 0x523
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Drefong (USA)
  • Dam: Deep Love (JPN)
Kovalica Silks

5. Kovalica (17)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Damian Lane
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 6243x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Ocean Park (NZ)
  • Dam: Vitesse (NZ)
Sharp N Smart Silks

6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)

  • T: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 3020x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Redwood (GB)
  • Dam: Queen Margaret (NZ)
Just Fine Silks

7. Just Fine (13)

  • T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
  • J: Jye McNeil
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 01050
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
  • Dam: Bint Almatar (USA)
Land Legend Silks

8. Land Legend (18)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Zac Purton
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 3160x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Landikusic (IRE)
Absurde Silks

9. Absurde (7)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: Kerrin McEvoy
  • W: 52.5kg
  • F: x14x1
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Incroyable (USA)
Athabascan Silks

10. Athabascan (2)

  • T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
  • J: Zac Lloyd
  • W: 52kg
  • F: 1008x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Alzubra (GB)
Knight's Choice Silks

11. Knight’s Choice (6)

  • T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
  • J: Robbie Dolan
  • W: 51.5kg
  • F: 5009x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Extreme Choice
  • Dam: Midnight Pearl
Okita Soushi Silks

12. Okita Soushi (10)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Jamie Kah
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 1208x
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Amicus
Onesmoothoperator Silks

13. Onesmoothoperator (12)

  • T: Brian Ellison
  • J: Craig Williams
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 1471x
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Dialed In (USA)
  • Dam: Sueno D’Oro (USA)
Zardozi Silks

14. Zardozi (4)

  • T: James Cummings
  • J: Andrea Atzeni
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 54256
  • Age: 4YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Kingman (GB)
  • Dam: Chanderi (GB)
Sea King Silks

15. Sea King (1)

  • T: Harry Eustace
  • J: Hollie Doyle
  • W: 50.5kg
  • F: 1×631
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
  • Dam: Pamona (IRE)
Valiant King Silks

16. Valiant King (22)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Craig Newitt
  • W: 50.5kg
  • F: 906×6
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Grey
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
  • Dam: Assembly (USA)
Fancy Man Silks

17. Fancy Man (19)

  • T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
  • J: Ron Stewart
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 635×0
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Pride of Dubai
  • Dam: Fancy (IRE)
Interpretation Silks

18. Interpretation (14)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Teo Nugent
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 26800
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Daldiyna (FR)
Manzoice Silks

19. Manzoice (8)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Declan Bates
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 7032x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Choice (NZ)
Mostly Cloudy Silks

20. Mostly Cloudy (16)

  • T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
  • J: Karis Teetan
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 044×2
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Harzand (IRE)
  • Dam: Clarinda (FR)
Positivity Silks

21. Positivity (20)

  • T: Andrew Forsman
  • J: Winona Costin
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 8712x
  • Age: 4YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Pussy O’Reilly (NZ)
Saint George Silks

22. Saint George (9)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Tyler Schiller
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 5948x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Grey
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
  • Dam: Lady Dragon (IRE)
The Map Silks

23. The Map (23)

  • T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
  • J: Rachel King
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 6509x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Alpine Eagle
  • Dam: This Moment
Trust In You Silks

24. Trust In You (5)

  • T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
  • J: Mark Du Plessis
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 44036
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sweynesse
  • Dam: Shinko Bay (NZ)

Most popular weights to win the Melbourne Cup from 2000 onwards

Since 2000 the most popular weights to win the Melbourne Cup are 54.5kg, 52kg and 51kg, with all of them sitting at three wins out of the 23 races.

Melbourne Cup wins by weight of jockey

Weight Wins Last win
Under 50kg 59 2000
50kg 4 1999
50.5kg 4 1978
51kg 9 2018
51.5kg 4 2017
52kg 8 2019
52.5kg 8 1985
53kg 9 2015
53.5kg 3 2012
54kg 3 1989
54.5kg 8 2011
55kg 5 2013
55.5kg 5 2020
56kg 7 2006
56.5kg 4 2023
57kg 3 2021
57.5kg 2 2022
58kg 3 2005
Over 58kg 14 1975

List of Melbourne Cup winners since 2000

Melbourne Cup Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer Weight
2023 Without A Fight Mark Zahra Anthony & Sam Freedman 56.5kg
2022 Gold Trip Mark Zahra Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 57.5kg
2021 Verry Elleegant James McDonald Chris Waller 57kg
2020 Twilight Payment Jye McNeil Joseph O’Brien 55.5kg
2019 Vow And Declare Craig Williams Danny O’Brien 52kg
2018 Cross Counter Kerrin McEvoy Charlie Appleby 51kg
2017 Rekindling Corey Brown Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg
2016 Almandin Kerrin McEvoy Robert Hickmott 52kg
2015 Prince of Penzance Oppie Bosson Murray Baker 56.5kg
2014 Protectionist Ryan Moore Andreas Wohler 56.5kg
2013 Fiorente Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse 55kg
2012 Green Moon Brett Prebble Robert Hickmott 53.5kg
2011 Dunaden Christophe Lemaire Mikel Delzangles 54.5kg
2010 Americain Gerald Mosse Alain de Royer Dupre 54.5kg
2009 Shocking Corey Brown Mark Kavanagh 51kg
2008 Viewed Blake Shinn Bart Cummings 53kg
2007 Efficient Michael Rodd Graeme Rogerson 54.5kg
2006 Delta Blues Yasunari Iwata Katsuhiko Sumi 56kg
2005 Makybe Diva Glenn Boss Lee Freedman 58kg
2004 Makybe Diva Glenn Boss Lee Freedman 55.5kg
2003 Makybe Diva Glenn Boss David Hall 51kg
2002 Media Puzzle Damien Oliver Dermot K Weld 52.5kg
2001 Ethereal Scott Seamer Sheila Laxon 52kg
2000 Brew Kerrin McEvoy Michael MoroneyMichael Moroney 49kg

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