Melbourne Cup jockey calls for HUGE change to the way Australia’s biggest race is run

Melbourne Cup jockey Declan Bates is calling on Racing Victoria to consider adjusting jockeys’ weights for the race that stops a nation following a turbulent build up to Tuesday’s race.

Bates, 36, secured a ride in the 2024 Melbourne Cup on Chris Waller’s Manzoice on Saturday.

He was originally meant to to be riding Mahrajaan, but it was scratched over the weekend after failing vet scans.

Bates will pilot Manzoice at 51kg, just a kilo over his 50kg allotment.

‘Because he had 50kg, I didn’t go chasing the ride, but I think they were struggling to find someone because they called up and asked what weight I could ride at,’ Bates told Racing.com.

‘I said 51kg would be my minimum, and they were happy to have me on even being a kilo over.

‘It’s great, it’s a Chris Waller horse, he’s a master trainer, and it’s a Melbourne Cup ride. You’ve certainly got to make the most of it.’

As a lighter jockey, Bates has made the most of the situation, but thinks the great race should get with the times and consider shifting weights up in future.

Bates says people are bigger nowadays and the weights for Cup jockeys like Jamie Kah (pictured) should reflect that

‘The public want to see the best jockeys, but from our perspective it’s all about taking the opportunities you get,’ he said.

‘It’s good to see some lightweight jockeys taking advantage of the situation, and I guess that’s what I’ve done as well.

‘But in 2024, there’s not as many jockeys walking around at 50kg as there were maybe 30 years ago.

‘People are a lot bigger in general now, and I think the weights should reflect that.’

Jockey James McDonald, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2021, is without a ride this year after Via Sistina withdrew.

The popular hoop rides at 55kg and rarely goes any lighter.