Japan's Admire Rakti has been slugged with the Melbourne Cup top weight of 58kg after handicaps were released for the race on Tuesday morning.
Admire Rakti, who has already entered quarantine with fellow cup hopeful Bande en route for Australia, will be attempting to emulate the success of 2006 winner Delta Blues as Japanese trainers show renewed interest in the Melbourne Cup.
Bande joined other internationally-trained horses, including last year's Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino and rising German star Protectionist, with a 56.5kg impost.
It's the same burden early Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer, who smoked his Sydney Cup rivals in the autumn, has been allotted as Gai Waterhouse seeks to win back-to-back Melbourne cups.
Two-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux's bid to create history as the first nine-year-old to win the two-miler will need to be achieved with a 57kg burden. It's the fourth time Ed Dunlop has travelled his grand old stager down under.
Lloyd Williams' former Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and stablemate Fawkner, the reigning Caulfield Cup champion, also share 57kg.
"Under the Australian Rules of Racing I am obligated to release a topweight of 58kg, however with recent staying champions Fiorente, Dunaden and Americain now retired there was no natural topweight so I've had to effectively lift weights 2kg for the majority of runners," said Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria's Executive General Manager - Racing.
"Whilst this year's Emirates Melbourne Cup entry carries the 2012 winner Green Moon, dual runner-up Red Cadeaux and last year's Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner, none warranted being allocated topweight based on their past handicaps and their overall form across the past two seasons."
Other international raiders who are being aimed towards the cup include Seismos on 56kg while Mutual Regard, Willing Foe and Pale Mimosa will all carry 55kg.
Admire Rakti and Bande will touch down in Australia this Saturday. They'll be followed by 19 European-based horses, having already entered quarantine in Newmarket in the United Kingdom, who will arrive at Werribee on Saturday week, AFL grand final day.
Of the horses already in Australia, Makybe Diva's three-quarter sister La Amistad faces a battle to make the Melbourne Cup field after receiving only 51.5kg.
Roger James' heroine of the spring, Silent Achiever, was allocated 56.5kg. Lucia Valentina and Kirramosa, outstanding three-year-old fillies last season showing promising signs in open company, were burdened with 53kg.
