Reigning Horse of the Year Via Sistina and Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa will carry topweight of 59kg in this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan released weights on Tuesday for both the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4 and the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18. Buckaroo and Light Infantry Man share top billing for the Caulfield Cup with 59kg.

Hegan said Via Sistina’s dominant Cox Plate win made her the highest-rated entry, while Al Riffa’s Curragh triumph secured his 59kg. “Her class is indisputable. If I was weighting the Cup on one run, she would be outright topweight,” he said.

Last year’s Cup winner Knight’s Choice rises to 55kg, up 2.5kg in real terms, while Vauban has 56.5kg and Absurde 53.5kg, effectively unchanged. Three-year-old fillies Aeliana (53kg) and Treasurethe Moment (54kg) also feature prominently.

Several internationals, including Presage Nocturne and Meydaan, are in quarantine ahead of October arrivals, while Onesmoothoperator will target the Geelong Cup en route to Flemington.