By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Sept 1 AAP - Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Shocking remains the $12 favourite to make it back-to-back wins in the 150th anniversary of the great race following the release of weights on Wednesday.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter raised Shocking 6kg from his winning weight last year to 57kg.

Carpenter said the rise in weight was in effect a 4.5kg penalty for winning the Lexus Stakes and the Melbourne Cup, with 1.5kg being the extra weight a five-year-old receives as opposed to a four-year-old under the weight-for-age scale.

Master trainer Bart Cummings, 82, currently recovering in a Sydney hospital after fracturing his pelvis in a fall at home, has a strong representation as he shoots for his 13th Melbourne Cup.

His Queensland Derby winner Dariana (51.5kg) and Cox Plate hero So You think (56kg) are equal second picks with TAB Sportsbet at $14 with VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume (52kg) at $16, Precedence (50.5kg) at $21 and Brightnight (50kg) at $26.

Rebel Raider (55.5kg), the 2008 Victoria Derby winner, and reigning AJC Australian Derby winner Shoot Out (55kg) are both high up in Cup betting at $16.

Warrnambool-trained five-year-old Moudre is equal favourite at $10 with Shoot Out for the Caulfield Cup.