2019 winner Vow and Declare will have a much tougher task if he is to go back-to-back this year, with handicappers hitting the stayer with 57kg for the Melbourne Cup.
The Danny O'Brien-trained horse carried 52kg to victory last year and is set to attempt to become only the fifth horse to defend their crown.
Vow and Declare won't be the top weight however, that title will go to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck (58.5kg) if it is entered.
Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter last year opted to add a kilo to all northern hemisphere three-year-olds following the wins of Cross Counter (2018) and Rekindling (2017).
Even amid the coronavirus pandemic, internationally-bred horses are again expected to feature heavily in this year's edition, with Aussies few and far between in the full list.
Though, as we saw last year, you can never count the local hopes out.
James Cummings' star Avilius will carry 57kg, while another Aidan O'Brien horse, Irish Derby winner Sovereign, has also been given 57kg.
2019 runner-up Prince of Arran will carry 54.5kg, while Oceanex, which won the Andrew Ramsden Stakes to qualify automatically for the Cup has been given 51.5kg if it is to accept.
Last year's fifth finisher Surprise Baby is currently favourite ($9) in the all-in markets and has been allocated 54kg, other fancies include Russian Camelot (53.5kg), Verry Elleegant (55kg), Ashrun (53kg) and Finche (54.5kg).
There are four remaining ballot exempt races, with the winners of the Bart Cummings Stakes, Hotham Handicap, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup granted entry in to the big one.
The 2020 Melbourne Cup, which will have a prize purse of $8 million, will be run at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 3.
Check out the full Melbourne Cup weights here.
