THE Aidan O’Brien-trained Kew Gardens has been given top-weight of 58kgs for A$8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup on November 5th. Half a kilo behind him are a pair of Godolphin runners, last year’s winner Cross Counter (a 6.5kg increase) and the locally-trained Avilius.

A total of 27 of the 157 entries have been allocated 54kgs or above, including Maremelo (56), Master Of Reality (55.5), Hunting Horn (55), Ispolini (55), Latrobe (55), Twilight Payment (55), Morando (54.5), Gold Mount (54), Raymond Tusk (54) and Red Verdon (54).