3 Sep 2008

Yeats gets top weight for Melbourne Cup

6:18 pm on 3 September 2008

Ireland's triple Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats has been named top weight for November's $7 million Melbourne Cup.

Yeats has been allocated 59 kilograms, marking the third year in a row the eight-year-old has been saddled with the highest handicap for Australia's richest race.

Yeats's stablemate Septimus, who was crowned Europe's champion stayer in 2007, was given the second top weight of 58.5kg and last year's race winner, Australian horse Efficient, was 58kg.

Delta Blues and Pop Rock, the Japan-trained duo which completed a unique one-two in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, were included among the top weights but have already been ruled out of the race because of Australia's strict quarantine regulations.

Biosecurity officials have also extended the period all visiting horses need to spend in quarantine from 14 to 21 days but organisers are confident most of the top Europeans will still come.

The final field of 24 will be determined three days before the race with about six foreign-trained runners expected to make it to the barriers.