The Melbourne Cup jockey is calling 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 jockey weights for the nation’s holding back race after 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 ride Mahrajaan but was scratched this weekend after vet scans failed.

Bates will pilot Manzoice at 51kg, just one kilo over his allotted weight of 50kg.

“Because he was 50kg I didn’t go after the ride, but I think they had trouble finding someone because they called and asked what weight I could ride,” Bates said. Racing.com.

‘I said 51kg would be my minimum, and they were happy for me to even spare a kilo.

“It’s amazing, it’s Chris Waller’s horse, he’s a master trainer and it’s a ride in the Melbourne Cup. You definitely have to make the best of it.’

As a lighter jockey, Bates has made the best of the situation but believes the great race should move with the times and consider increasing the weights in the future.

Declan Bates (pictured right riding with Herman Hesse) calls on Racing Victoria to consider adjusting weights for the great race

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

“The public wants to see the best jockeys, but from our perspective it’s all about taking advantage of the opportunities you get,” he said.

‘It’s good to see some lightweight jockeys taking advantage of the situation, and I think I did that too.

‘But in 2024 there will not be as many jockeys weighing 50 kg as there were about 30 years ago.

“People are generally a lot bigger now, and I think the weights should reflect that.”

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

The popular hoop weighs 55 kg and rarely gets lighter.