Form guide, tips, predictions, horses, start time, betting odds, favourite, predicted first 4

The spring goes into overdrive this Saturday as the Melbourne Racing Club raises the bat: it’s the 150th running of the wonderful Caulfield Cup.

While it’s not the Big Cup run at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November, it’s the second biggest Cup we have, and a key part of the rituals of the springtime’s glorious festival of the thoroughbred, and of the punt.

First run in 1879, the Caulfield Cup – worth $6.5 million – is a gripping handicap over the classic distance of 2400m.

Run at the slightly quirky track bearing its name in Melbourne’s east, it’s a race with a special place in Australian turf folklore, with its winners including champions such as Tulloch, Rising Fast, Might And Power and Northerly.

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It’s a mighty race itself, the most testing mile-and-a-half contest this country has, requiring stamina and speed. But it’s also half of the annual compelling story of “The Cups Double”, with any horse able to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne cups assured of a gilded place in history.

It also remains the most important lead-up race to the 3200m Melbourne Cup in terms of form assessment. Watch not only for the placegetters but those horses doing their best work at the finish, often quietly, giving the impression they’ll love the extra 800m of Australia’s greatest race.

This year’s sesquicentenary Caulfield Cup has fittingly drawn together a crack field of the capacity 18 horses, plus emergencies, and it’s a wide open affair with plenty of chances, offering the tantalising chance of substantial value for punters.

With European stayers generally superior to Australia’s, such imports and visitors dominate the numbers, comprising 14 of the 22 acceptors (which includes four emergencies in case any of the top 18 are scratched).

But against all of those comes a worthy Australian-bred contingent including $9 chance Half Yours – who lifted the Cups double last year – and Knight’s Choice, who so memorably won the Melbourne Cup at cricket score odds of $91 in 2024, and is peaking at the right time again.

There’s also Cosmic Crusader, who was bred in New Zealand but has done all his racing in Australia, kicking off in Perth before a transfer east, so we can claim him as one of our own. He hasn’t been past 2000m before but he keeps raising his level, and so has been made favourite at around the $5.50 mark.

And many people who love a punt will notice he’ll be ridden by his regular jockey, William “The Wizard Of The West” Pike.

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Now, we’ve all been there, had a losing day in the eastern states, and then done the walk of shame hope to back whatever this man with the phenomenal strike rate is riding in the last in Perth, be it horse or broomstick.

Well now, he’s come to us. While Cosmic Crusader may now be based in Victoria, Pike is his regular rider, flying in from Perth to partner him at the behest of the six-year-old’s owner and breeder, gargantuan WA turf identity Bob Peters.

Pike was aboard for Cosmic Crusader’s last start in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, where the gelding stepped up to 2000m for the first time and won very impressively, by 1.75 lengths. Let’s see if the Wizard can work his magic again over the extra 400m.

Irish-bred import Zahrann – one of a battalion of runners for master trainer Ciaron Maher – has come in for strong support during the week to be second favourite at around $6.

British raider Wine Dark Sea, who’s won four of 10 back home, ranks next at around $8, before seven others between $9 and $18, so you mightn’t know where to look. For better or for worse, we’re here to help!

With a packed 10-race card and fine weather forecast, it’s one of the great days on the Australian turf, with two Group 1s, two Group 2s and four Group 3s on the undercard. So here’s your ultimate guide to Caulfield Cup day.

WHAT IS IT?

The Caulfield Cup, a handicap for three-year-olds and upwards over 2400m, and the most important lead up for Australia’s greatest race, the 3200m Melbourne Cup, 17 days later.

It’s a Group 1, which is the highest category of “black type” race, above G2, G3 and Listed, which is the racing world’s way of recognising the best horses internationally.

Though 800m shorter than the Big Cup, Caulfield’s annual highlight is a gruelling affair requiring stamina, toughness, and a finishing dash.

It begins with a short-ish, frenetic 300m run from the start at the top of the home straight to the first of Caulfield’s three corners, so horses with wide starting gates will want to get across to save ground. (Despite this perceived wisdom, 12 of the past 38 winners have started from barrier 10 or wider).

After passing the winning post the first time, the field turns left heading up to the back of the course, where they’re tested by an uphill run, before turning down the Railway Side when the runs start coming, before the real heat’s poured on rounding the home turn.

WHAT’S IT WORTH?

$6,545,000 million. The winner takes home $3.3 million, even 10th place earns $125k, and everyone thereafter takes home $60,000, which covers the $50,000 it costs to enter.

WHEN’S IT ON?

Race 9 of 10 on the Caulfield card on Saturday, at 5:15pm AEDT.

WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT?

At the course in Melbourne’s leafy east, on Channel 7, Racing.com, or Sky Racing. Foxsports.com.au will have live news and updates, including video soon after the race.

MAIN PLOTLINES

Will the plucky Aussie battlers be repel the overseas bombardment?

We ask this every year and the answer is usually no, but lately the locals have struck back.

Incentivise took the Cup in 2021, and then last year another local in Half Yours won, before also taking the Melbourne Cup. OK, his father was imported from Ireland, but Half Yours was born and raised in Victoria, so in this day and age where the Australian landscape is flooded with European stayers, it’s safe to say he’s as Aussie as they come.

Trained by the likeable, Ballarat-based father-son team of Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Half Yours is back for another shot. But given it’s a handicap, his deeds of last spring mean instead of the light 52.5kg he had in the 2025 Caulfield Cup, he’ll now have to carry the topweight of 57.5kg.

A horse may weigh about half a tonne, but that 5kg makes a huge difference. Still, he’s as tough as they come, has been in decent form without winning, and you wouldn’t put it past him. He also has his regular rider aboard in leading female jockey Jamie Melham, who has a knack for winning big races.

The bookmakers have Half Yours among the top chances at around the $9 mark, but ahead of him is Cosmic Crusader, the $5.50 favourite.

He was actually born in New Zealand, by a Japanese sire but out of an Australian mare, but he was brought home to start his racing in Perth – home of his renowned owner and breeder, WA turf behemoth Peters, and the aforementioned wizard-like Pike.

Cosmic Crusader won his first Group 1 in Perth’s Northerly Stakes over 1800m last December. He was then transferred east to small-time trainer Andrea Leek, who has all of 19 horses in her Pakenham stable. By comparison, the McEvoys have 145, Chris Waller, who has three Caulfield Cup starters, has 490, and Ciaron Maher, who has five plus three emergencies in the race, has 524.

But size isn’t everything. Under Leek’s care, Cosmic Crusader won first-up from a spell over just 1200m in a Caulfield G3, then again over 1400m in a G2 at the same track.

He was favourite when stepped up to a more suitable 1800m for the G1 Underwood Stakes in September but disappointed his backers slightly in running second, but hit back with that impressive last-start win in the Turnbull, which is always a key trial for the Caulfield Cup.

Second favourite is England’s Wine Dark Sea, the classic European raider of which we must be wary, whilst also taking something of a leap of faith that he’s got here in one piece and is as happy as a Pom at Bondi.

An $18 chance for the Melbourne Cup, Wine Dark Sea has a weird name but strong form, winning a 2671m G3 at Newbury last start. He’s a good age for this race, being counted as a five-year-old down here but really being four-and-a-half (since northern horses are born in the first few months of the calendar year, not from August to November like southern foals).

And he has a relatively light 54.5kg handicap, while he’s carried 64kg and 61 in his past two English wins.

Maher’s flotilla includes $6 shot Zahrann – an Irish import – and $8 chance Saint George, who’s originally from England and is a pick not only for long-suffering Dragons supporters but for those who like greys. Or whites, as is the case with this very pale and pasty ex-Pom.

The Europeans also include $11 shot Enfjaar – a last-start winner at the famed Goodwood carnival for leading trainer Roger Varian – and $26 chance Starford, who’s been knocking around promisingly in Ireland for wily trainer Joseph O’Brien, who’s raided Flemington to win two Melbourne Cups, so knows the type of horse to bring here.

There’s a handful of other chances as well and the weather is tipped to be fine, so hopefully a dry track.

As always, the Caulfield Cup will be watched closely for key pointers to the Melbourne Cup – not just among the first few home but from those behind them perhaps surging to the line, or sneaking along more quietly.

So cast your eyes over the first half of the field as they run inside the last 200m, and write some things down in your Melbourne Cup black book.

FIRST WINNER

Newminster, in 1879

LAST WINNER

Half Yours – who got home by half a length as a short $2.50 favourite before also winning the Melbourne Cup.

FAMOUS WINNERS

Eurythmic (1920), Amounis (1930), Rising Fast (1954, 1955), Tulloch (1957), Galilee (1966), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Let’s Elope (1991), Might And Power (1997), Northerly (2002), Verry Elleegant (2020), Without A Fight (2023).

CAULFIELD-MELBOURNE CUPS DOUBLE WINNERS

Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997), Ethereal (2001), Without A Fight (2023), Half Yours (2025).

BEST BARRIERS: In the past 34 years, seven is the pick, with five winners. Gates three and nine have four each.

WORST BARRIER: Perverse as it sounds, it’s No.1, which hasn’t had a win since barrier stalls were introduced at Caulfield in 1947.

FAVOURITES: Six of nine favourites won between 1999 and 2007, but then only five of 18 since. Favourites won in 2021, 2022 and 2025, although Boom Time did get up at $50 in 2017.

MAJOR RACES ON THE UNDERCARD

The Thousand Guineas – 3yo fillies, Group 1, 1600m, race 7 at 3.45pm.

An important race for young females, under set weights (they all carry 56kg). It’s a Group 1 that will give its winner’s value on the broodmare market later a mighty boost. It’s headed by Regal Ambition at $4, who’s won her past two of three starts for the Hayes Brothers, Ciaron Maher’s pair Over The Bridge ($5), who’s unbeaten in two starts, and Saintly Dancer ($6), a last-start G2 winner, along with Chris Waller’s improving former Kiwi De Armas ($6).

Sportsbet Classic – 3yos, G3, 2000m, race 1 at 12.15pm, featuring several VRC Derby hopefuls.

Ethereal Stakes – 3yo fillies, G3, 2000m, race 2 at 12:50pm, featuring several VRC Oaks hopefuls.

Harry White Stakes – G3, 1400m, race 5 at 2.35pm, a longer sprint for 4yos and upwards.

Henley Homes Sun Sprint – G2, 1000m, race 6 at 3.10pm, a short handicap sprint for all comers.

Blue Sapphire Stakes — G3, 1200m, race 8 at 4.30pm, a set weights sprint for 3yos.

Tristarc Stakes – G2, 1400m, race 10 at 5.50pm, a sprint for mares, named after a former good one, the Caulfield Cup winner of 1985.

THE CAULFIELD CUP FIELD

Race 9, 5.15pm, 2400m

1. HALF YOURS (Starting barrier 7) Handicap 57.5kg; Approx odds win/place $9/$3. FOR: Knows his way around here having won this race last year in fine style. Is a tough stayer who can produce an electrifying burst of acceleration at the finish, which is what you need in a Caulfield Cup. Recent form has been sound with two runs this campaign in Group 1 company for a sixth in the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m and a fifth in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m, finishing on nicely each time. From the canny McEvoy stable and has last year’s Cups double winning jockey Jamie Melham. Blinkers go back on him to put his mind right on the job. AGAINST: While he’s been racing alright in his six starts since that Cups double, he hasn’t actually won, or even placed, with his best finishes being three fourths. At short odds, that’s been costly for punters. You worry if he’s come off his peak of last spring, but then again, his longest run in that time has been 2200m, and he’s likely to love this 2400m trip. The other concern is weight, that thing that’ll stop a train, as old racing crusties like to say. Half Yours had 52.5kg in winning this last year, by 0.46 lengths. His achievements then mean he now has the topweight of 57.5kg this time. That’s a huge difference, especially since a kilo equates to about a length in old school rules of thumb. But you wouldn’t put it past him.

2. COSMIC CRUSADER (17) 56kg, $5.50/$2. FOR: Your race favourite, and for good reason. Kicked off in Perth where he rose through the grades to claim an 1800m G1 last December. That earned him a transfer to Melbourne, and he’s shown he’s up to that tougher company. Has won at 1200m, 1400m and 2000m amid five starts, the latest coming by 1.75 lengths in the Turnbull Stakes, always a good trial for this race. Keeps meeting the challenges put in front of him, has the “Wizard Of The West” Willie Pike in the saddle, and new trainer Andrea Leek, while a small-timer, has the horse running well. He’s also a six-year-old, an age group with a strong record in this race. AGAINST: While he keeps clearing the bar, this will be his first start beyond 2000m, and a torrid 2400m it is. The way he hit the line in the Turnbull suggests he’ll handle it, but until you see them do it, there has to be doubts. Has to carry a substantial weight, too, and he’s drawn badly in gate 17, though it would become 14 if all the emergencies come out. Still, he’s a classy animal and in with a chance.

3. TREASURETHE MOMENT (5) 55.5kg, $26/$7. FOR: Has been a highly talented mare on her day, winning nine in a row from 2024-25 including two G1s for three-year-old fillies over roughly this trip. Also ran third in last year’s Cox Plate (G1, 2040m), probably the classiest race Australia has. Drawn perfectly in gate five, and is nice and fit after four runs this campaign. AGAINST: Has been mixing her form this preparation, with a good fourth, a poor last of 10, a good second, and an ordinary second-last of six. That’s shaken the faith considerably, and she’d need to lift to win this. Jockey Daniel Stackhouse is capable but is still yet to ride a G1 winner at 36.

4. KINGSWOOD (20) 55kg, $31/$8. FOR: From the in-form stable of Gavin Bedggood, a young trainer going places who’s been getting the most out of his horses lately. Has won three of his past eight starts including a 2000m G1 in New Zealand, and a 1700m Listed handicap at Caulfield first-up three runs ago, under 61kg. Last two runs fair in testing weight-for-age G1s, including a 1.75 length fourth in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes (2000m). Better suited under handicap conditions here, doesn’t have too much weight, and has a fine jockey in John Allen. One for the grey backers. AGAINST: Distance doubt. Has had two career runs up to this distance for two moderate fifths. You could excuse the latest one, at Caulfield two years ago, due to a heavy track, but still he’s not proven at the distance, whereas plenty of rivals are. Has always drawn poorly in gate 20. Rough place only.

5. KNIGHT’S CHOICE (22) 55kg, $34/$9. FOR: Has talent, as shown in his stunning Melbourne Cup win at big odds in 2024, which lived up to the promise he’d shown early in his career. Has battled patchy form and injuries since then, but showed he was working into it nicely again last Saturday when third in the 2400m Herbert Power Handicap, beaten only 0.21 lengths. Will be fitter for three runs this campaign, and trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon know how to win a big cup. AGAINST: Has drawn poorly in gate 22. Will likely go back from there and will need luck in the home straight, probably trying to thread the needle in traffic again like he did in his Melbourne Cup win. Still, has the late acceleration that will help that aim, and he’s an each-way chance and might be over the odds.

6. MIDDLE EARTH (11) 55kg. $26/$7. FOR: Imported British stayer who won four races there including two in black type (G3 and Listed) before joining the crack Ciaron Maher stable out here. Has shown class by winning his first Australian run, which is fairly rare, running third in last year’s Melbourne Cup, and winning again in Brisbane’s carnival in May, in a 2000m G3. Should be peaking after three runs this campaign. OK middle gate and a solid jockey in Thomas Stockdale. AGAINST: Those three runs this campaign have been a bit average, even if over unsuitably short trips. Last start was beaten more than 10 lengths when eighth in the Turnbull, when he was entitled to make more ground after a strong pace was set up front. Will appreciate the extra 400m here, but his form’s a worry.

7. ENFJAAR (1) 54.5kg. $11/$3.50. FOR: Highly-rated British stayer with some strong form there, including his last start on August 1 when he scored by 1.25 lengths in a 2412m G3 at the esteemed Goodwood carnival, at his first try up at this distance. Considering the strength of European stayers, winning a G3 there is good form for a 2400m G1 handicap here, especially since he’s a tough seven-year-old gelding with a fairly light weight here. Gun, big name trainer in Roger Varian. Inside barrier. AGAINST: The usual queries over how well they’ve travelled and settled in. Plus there’ll be lots of pressure on in an 18-horse field here, whereas he only beat seven rivals at Goodwood. You’re always taking these visitors on trust a little. Plus – barrier 1 sounds great but has that poor reputation in this race, with no winners since barrier stalls came into use in 1947. Still, that hoodoo has to burst one day. Each way chance.

8. GREEN SPACES (18) 54.5kg. $34/$9. FOR: From the Bjorn Baker stable, which has been firing on all cylinders recently, especially with Rachel King in the saddle. He’s owned by the powerful royal blue Godolphin empire, this four-year-old stallion won the Australian Derby over this trip in the autumn, a race whose winner is always marked out for the Caulfield Cup. And he won the Derby by 3.19 lengths, so you know he runs out a strong 2400m. Has had four runs this campaign to get ready for this, and the latest was a fair trial, with a fourth in Randwick’s The Metropolitan, now a G2, over 2400m, making good ground at the end. Should be peaking for this race. AGAINST: Drawn badly in gate 18, so will need a ton of luck from there. A bit of history against him too, with only two horses since 1985 completing the Australian Derby-Caulfield Cup double, the latest in 2015. Doesn’t seem to be travelling as well as he did in the autumn. Rough place only.

9. ROYAL SUPREMACY (8) 54.5kg. $13/$4. FOR: Irish-bred import from the stable of master trainer Ciaron Maher and has strong form for this. Last spring, won Randwick’s The Metropolitan, a G1 (then) over 2400m, then ran a strong fifth in the Caulfield Cup, making up many lengths from the back. Showed he was in good nick for this by winning last start in a 2000m G3 at Caulfield, and drops 5.5kg from 60kg that day. In between, he won a 2200m G2 at the Brisbane carnival after two thirds there, so he’s a consistent animal, well proven at the trip, and is in the right age group at six. Good inside barrier and a top international British jockey in Jamie Spencer, which is an interesting booking. AGAINST: Not a lot. Has to cope with a slight weight raise on last year’s 52.5kg, but it’s nothing huge. Perhaps doesn’t come out of the strongest form race from that 2000m G3 last start, with the second and fourth horses dudding since. Still, he can only beat what’s put in front of him. Definite chance.

10. WINE DARK SEA (19) 54.5kg. $9.50/$3. FOR: Is said to be the best prospect among this year’s European raiders, coming in with a rating of 113 that’s bettered by only three rivals. Has built a formidable record in Britain, winning three of his past four. The latest came in a G3 at Newbury over 2671m, so you know he’ll get the trip. In the right age group, as a British 4yo, and will love this lighter weight after humping 64kg and 61kg in his past two wins. Trainer has engaged a good big race local jockey in Damian Lane. AGAINST: That usual query over how the imports have travelled and acclimatised. Plus he’s probably not used to the sort of pressure he’ll face in an 18-horse field here. That Newbury win came against just four rivals, though he did win a 14-horse race at Ascot in May. Has also drawn a visitor’s gate in barrier 19, so he’ll need luck from there. But does comes here with a strong reputation. Each way.

11. ASTERIX (10) 53.5kg. $51/$13.50. FOR: Former Kiwi with the master trainer in Chris Waller. Won three out of five from April to June including a 2400m G3 in Brisbane during their carnival. Has also won a 2400m G2 in NZ, so should get the trip OK. Ran a good third behind Cup rivals Zahrann and Saint George two runs back in a Caulfield G3 over 2000m. AGAINST: Turned in a shocker after that when last of 13 in the Turnbull. Rider blamed the heavy track but he’s won twice on heavy before. He was a longshot that day in a set weights G1 and will be better suited by the handicap conditions here, but he is an eight-year-old so his best days are probably behind him.

12. SAINT GEORGE (2) 53.5kg. $8/$2.75. FOR: Master trainer Ciaron Maher and great jockey in Craig Williams, who will love jumping from barrier two. He’s a British import who’s won up to 2916m there so the trip won’t worry him. Has been in good form overall of late with strong handicap wins over 2000m at Flemington and Caulfield before a second to Zahrann in a 2000m G3. Carried 58.5kg (twice) and 61.5kg in those three runs, so will love the 53.5kg here. AGAINST: Looked pretty plain last start in the Turnbull, beaten almost 12 lengths into 10th place. Conditions will suit better in this handicap, and it was his only run so far on a heavy track, so there’s an excuse, but you’d have probably liked to have seen more. And while he won over 2916m as a three-year-old, in Australia his runs beyond 2000m have been patchy. Place best.

13. STARFORD (15) 53.5kg. $23/$7. FOR: Another northern raider from the stable of canny Irishman Joseph O’Brien, who’s won two Melbourne Cups, so knows what types to bring here. This 5YO gelding has won four from 12 in Ireland, including over 2212m last September. Drops in weight a lot from the huge 63.5kg he had last start, when third over 2414m in a Listed race as Roscommon. AGAINST: Hasn’t won beyond that 2212m race. Has been tried at this trip three times, highlighted by a 0.25 length second in a low grade race and that last-start third at Roscommon, where he was beaten 5.5 lengths. It’s been a long time since that run too, on June 30, so he’ll need to have travelled and acclimatised well to be a chance here. Trainer wouldn’t have brought him all this way if he felt the 2400m was beyond him, but he’ll need to tick a few boxes to win. Awkward starting gate too, even if he does come in to 12 if all emergencies are out. Place best.

14. SHE’S A HUSTLER (6) 53kg. $21/$6. FOR: Kiwi-bred mare by a sire on the rise in Ace High, and has a fine trainer with a sharp strike rate in Grahame Begg. Won at this course and distance in a G2 last November, run under the testing weight-for-age scale which represents quality, and has been ticking over nicely for this handicap, where she’ll love the light weight. First up was a solid fifth in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes at weight-for-age, then ran seventh in the set weights Turnbull, outshining several Cup rivals. Good jockey in Michael Dee and a fine inside gate from which she should get a lovely run. AGAINST: Was beaten a long way in the Turnbull, at 10.5 lengths, but had to work hard, sitting third without cover while a torrid pace was set. Might have liked her to have had one more run this preparation to be ready for this gruelling test. Will get the trip though and she’s a place chance.

15. SOUL OF SPAIN (13), 53kg. $34/$9. FOR: Irish-bred import who has the Chris Waller touch. Arrived with a bang last year winning four of his first six Australian starts before a 0.77 length second in The Metropolitan behind Royal Supremacy. Then backed up in the autumn to run second in the 3200m Sydney Cup, so you know he’s fine at this 2400m trip. Decent run two starts ago when third in a 2000m G2 at Randwick, making ground from midfield. AGAINST: The run after that, when he tried The Metropolitan again, but could manage only seventh of nine. Showed little that day and this is a lot tougher, even if he drops from 58.5kg to the 53 here. Blinkers back on may help, but would need to improve.

16. ZAHRANN (4) 53kg. $6/$2.25. FOR: Irish-bred import and another for the Maher stable. Classy enough to run a close second in a G2 at Royal Ascot over 2414m last year, amid three wins and two seconds from his first five starts. That spurred Maher and chums to buy him, and he rewarded them two runs back when he won a Caulfield G3 handicap over 2000m at his fourth Australian start, swooping late to beat Cup rivals Saint George and Asterix into the minors – a good, tough win with a late burst of acceleration. By Britain’s super sire Night Of Thunder, and at his peak as a 5yo stallion. Has a class jockey in Ethan Brown, a light weight and an inside gate. AGAINST: Is another who fared poorly in the Turnbull Stakes last start, running 11th of 13, beaten 19 lengths. That was on a heavy track, but he’d run OK on a heavy before. Better suited back to handicap conditions here though, with that light weight, and will prefer the dry track. A ton of money has come for him since the barrier draw, and the stable usually knows which of their many starters to back. Big chance.

17. OHOPE WINS (16), 51.5kg, $21/$6. FOR: Is prepared by Chris Waller, who wins G1s for fun and has won two of the past six of these. She’s a tough New Zealand stayer, the type of animal who go well in Australian staying contests. She won the NZ Oaks and Australian Oaks in the autumn, both over this 2400m trip. Is in with the proverbial postage stamp of a handicap at 51.5kg, and ran well last start when sixth in the Turnbull Stakes, finishing solidly like she’d love the extra 400m here. Good jockey in Jye McNeil. AGAINST: Not a huge amount. Mares have only won two of the past 14 editions of this race, and the latest was the very special Verry Elleegant in 2020. Awkward gate in 16, but her Turnbull run was a sneaky little trial for this, and she was no weight whatsoever. Each way.

18. KINGS VALLEY (12), 51kg, $26/$7. FOR: A six-year-old gelding who’s yet another Irish/British import for the Ciaron Maher stable, who’s been brought along through his grades to reach this grand final of his. Qualified by winning the Mornington Cup over this trip in April. Has no weight on his back and has up and coming apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone. AGAINST: Since winning that Mornington Cup his form has tapered off, including his last-start ninth in the Turnbull Stakes at $151. Would need to improve. Plus apprentice jockeys rarely win this race.

EMERGENCIES

19. THE EUPHRATES (9), 52.5kg. $15/$4.50. FOR: Another imported stayer who brought strong credentials for this, including winning a Listed event over 2414m, and a handicap – also in Ireland – over 3419m in a field of 30. Distance: tick. Big field performance: tick. This six-year-old gelding is now in the hands of the powerful Waterhouse-Bott stable. It took a while to get him going here, but his three Australian starts have included a win in a Randwick G2 over 2000m, before a last-start third in The Metropolitan over 2400m. Drawn well, light weight, and good backing for him during the week. AGAINST: He led in that last start before weakening to be beaten 3.59 lengths. But should take a fitness kick from that run, his third of the campaign, after more than two years off. Hasn’t seen Caulfield before, which can be tricky for newcomers from Sydney, let alone Europe. Rough place best.

20. JUJA KIBO (14), 52kg. $15/$4.50. FOR: Another Irish import for the powerful Ciaron Maher stable who’s ultra consistent, with his Australian record reading four wins and nine placings in 17 starts. Ran third in The Metropolitan last spring before winning that race this year, by a commanding 1.7 lengths. Drops from 56.5kg there to 52kg here. Looks like he’ll get the trip and has a master trainer to put him into this race, who’s won two of the past 10 of these Cups. AGAINST: Does he lack the class of some of his rivals here? Maybe. Does he have the light weight to compensate? Totally. Has a tricky gate though. Rough place best.

21. POINT OF LAW (21) 51kg, $34/$9. FOR: Brand new import for Maher who comes after winning a 2615m G3 for three-year-olds at Newmarket, England, on July 9. AGAINST: Hasn’t started since then, so that’s a long time between runs to come into a Caulfield Cup for a horse who’s only three-and-a-half biologically. Drawn badly. Prefer to see.

22. MR MONACO (3) 51kg, $101/$26. FOR: As above, many times – another British import trained by Ciaron Maher. Has won up to 2520m, that being the Bart Cummings at Flemington at his last start, which qualified him for the Melbourne Cup. Also won a 2400m G3 at Randwick last March. AGAINST: Looks more like he’s being prepared for the Melbourne Cup, and this race is a key lead-up for that. But does has a very light weight, so could be a rough place hope.

TIPS:

1. ROYAL SUPREMACY, 2. Zahrann; 3. Knight’s Choice; 4. Half Yours.