What jockey weight is best to win the Melbourne Cup?
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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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