Four Melbourne Cup runners back to Sandown

Four of the five topweights for the Sandown Cup are backing up from last-start efforts in the Melbourne Cup.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained The Offer, the winner of the Bendigo Cup before his eighth behind Prince Of Penzance at Flemington, has 60kg in Saturday's Listed Sandown Cup over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200 metres.

Almoonqith and Grand Marshal, 18th and 21st respectively in the Cup, have both been given 59kg at Sandown while Sertorius, who finished 12th, has 57kg.

The only one in the top five in the weights for Saturday's race not to run in the Melbourne Cup is Dandino, winner of Saturday's Queen's Cup at Flemington, with 59.5kg.

Precedence, who ran in the Melbourne Cup four times for the late Bart Cummings with a best finish of sixth in 2014 behind Protectionist, will be retired after Saturday's race.