Internationals dominate the top of Caulfield Cup weights but it has been left to two horses recognised as Australia's best chances to generate most discussion on handicaps for the $3 million race.

Eclipse Stakes winner and Dubai World Cup placegetter Mukhadram headed more than 220 entries as he was made 58kg topweight when handicaps were released on Wednesday.

Mukhadram has been given 1kg more than Hong Kong's headline horse Dan Excel while Japanese stayer Admire Rakti and last year's winner Fawkner have 56kg.

The Offer and La Amistad continue to share Cup favouritism but Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter figures they have even more in common as they try to overcome different obstacles to win the first leg of spring's rich Cups double.

For The Offer, this year's Sydney Cup winner, Carpenter says his issue will be rewriting the record books after the Gai Waterhouse-trained stayer was given 54.5kg.

"He has a historical challenge in as much that I can't find a horse that's won a Sydney Cup and in the same year won a Caulfield Cup," he said.

Getting into the field will be the worry for La Amistad's connections after Makybe Diva's three-quarter sister received 50kg.

Carpenter said he had to weight La Amistad on her record rather than reputation.

"At the end of the day three starts ago she won a restricted race in Sydney," Carpenter said.

"She was very impressive winning the McKell Cup and her first-up run (in the Rowley Mile) was very good.

"But on what she has achieved on the racecourse so far, as a mare I couldn't have got her off the minimum weight."

La Amistad's weight will mean she will have to win a race of significance to be re-handicapped or earn a ballot exemption by claiming a designated lead-up.

Mukhadram is considered extremely doubtful to make the trip to Melbourne but Carpenter said he deserved 58kg.

"He's a worthy topweight with 58 (kilos), a natural topweight," he said.

"(But) it's a challenge now to convert that entry into participation in the race."

Still, Carpenter is confident the Melbourne Racing Club's decision to scout for international talent seems certain to pay off.

"I think (the club) has been well rewarded for their aggressive recruiting campaign overseas," he said.

Well-travelled international Red Cadeaux has 55.5kg while the Australian Derby winner Criterion has been given 54.5kg, the same weight as New Zealand's best staying mare Silent Achiever.