The Caulfield Cup has a rich and proud history as one of four races that comprise the Grand Slam of Australian Racing.
The time honoured G1 has an impressive list of winners dating back to 1879 and another name will be etched into the record books this Saturday when the $5 million feature is contested at Caulfield.
Last year’s winner, Without A Fight, will not take part in this year’s race but his trainers Anthony & Sam Freedman will still have a strong contender in Deny Knowledge.
Warp Speed will look to become the third Japanese horse to win the 2400m stamina test after Admire Rakti won in 2014 and Mer De Grace claimed the 2019 title.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has won two of the past four editions of the race and once again has a typically strong hand with four acceptors including favourite Buckaroo.
Not to be outdone, powerhouse conditioner Ciaron Maher who won in 2016 with Jameka, also has four hopes.
Incredibly the last Caulfield Cup winner that started from barrier 1 was in 1941 which doesn’t bode well for Land Legend.
For our thoughts on every horse, check out our comprehensive 2024 Caulfield Cup preview below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Kalapour (4)
Price: $81.00
The Kris Lees-trained eight-year-old gelding is on the quick back-up after never getting into the G1 Might And Power and finishing nine lengths sixth.
That followed an average effort when a well beaten eighth in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes.
He’ll appreciate the rise to this distance given he won the G1 Tancred Stakes over it during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
I just can’t see him improving enough to be competitive.
2. Buckaroo (8)
Price: $4.20
A gelding procedure ahead of this preparation has been the making of him as his results emphatically prove.
Following an eye-catching performance in the G1 Winx Stakes first-up, the Chris Waller-trained son of Fastnet Rock mustered plenty of strength to win the G2 Chelmsford Stakes.
He then came to Melbourne for the G1 Underwood Stakes and handled racing the opposite direction with aplomb, demoralising his rivals in a 3.5 length victory.
The six-year-old was brave as the day is long last start when finding the line powerfully to finish a head second to Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes.
This will be just his second start over the distance after finishing 1.8 lengths fifth in the Tancred Stakes, but he looks better equipped to handle the rise now.
He brings the A1 form lines to this year’s Caulfield Cup so it’s easy to see why he’s favourite.
3. Circle Of Fire (13)
Price: $35.00
The son of Almanzor made an inauspicious return to the races two starts ago in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes when eased down to finish 21.5 lengths last.
The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old improved significantly second-up when working home well to finish 6.5 lengths ninth in the Turnbull Stakes.
The G1 Sydney Cup winner’s Grand Final is the Melbourne Cup so connections will be happy to see him finishing the race off strongly.
4. Warp Speed (19)
Price: $23.00
The Japanese visitor was given no favour at the barrier draw and will start from barrier 16 if the emergencies come out.
He’s chased home one of Japan’s finest, T O Royal, in his past four starts including most recently in the Tenno Sho when 4.3 lengths fifth.
He enters this race first-up and is a proven fresh performer, winning over this distance in two of his past three first-up races.
The six-year-old is top class weight-for-age stayer who will be better suited over further in the Melbourne Cup but is by no means out of this race.
5. Huetor (7)
Price: $46.00
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding ended last preparation with a disappointing performance in the G2 Q22 during the Queensland Winter Carnival.
However, the 2x G1 winner looked to have put that poor result behind him when he thundered down the centre of the track to finish 3.5 lengths second in the Underwood Stakes first-up.
Unfortunately, he regressed last start when he just plugged to the line to finish nearly 10 lengths behind Buckaroo in the Turnbull Stakes.
He’s an eight-year-old now and looks up against it to be able to turn things around to be competitive here.
6. Warmonger (16)
Price: $16.00
The four-year-old gelding returned in magnificent order in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
While he was a well-beaten 5.8 lengths fourth, he finished off beautifully and recorded the quickest final 200m of the race.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained son of War Decree may have finished 7.7 lengths eleventh in the Turnbull Stakes last start, but given his targets are this race and the Melbourne Cup I was quite happy with the way he worked to the line from the back.
The big drop in weight and the chance of a rain-affected track are both in his favour.
He ended last preparation with a dominant 10.5 length G1 Doomben Cup win, so he certainly has the class to be a contender here.
7. Eliyass (21)
Price: $7.00
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained import is a winner, pure and simple.
His stats sheet is a thing of beauty with nine wins and three placings from 12 career starts.
The six-year-old gelding tasted defeat for the first time since arriving in Australia last start in the Turnbull Stakes but he far from disgraced himself.
He raced on speed and gave a kick but was overpowered late by Buckaroo and Via Sistina to finish 1.7 lengths third.
The only query with him is his ability to run out a strong 2400m given 2000m is as far as he has competed over in his career.
As would be expected from this stable, he puts himself into races with his go forward approach so drawing an outside barrier as he did last start isn’t as bad for him as it would be for other horses.
8. Land Legend (1)
Price: $10.00
The Chris Waller-trained gelding raced wide when second-up in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes but still fought on well to finish 5.1 lengths sixth.
He then stepped up to his preferred trip over this distance last start in the G1 Metropolitan and proved his toughness by getting the better of Zardozi on the line after a battle that took place over the length of the straight.
Last preparation, when resuming in his first Australian race, he went forward and easily won the St Leger Stakes over 2600m at Randwick.
Waller has stated that he’s a gross horse and has come on leaps and bounds since his last start win.
He looks to have plenty of upside and if the inside barrier isn’t a hinderance by this stage of the day, he should be fighting out the finish.
9. Young Werther (10)
Price: $21.00
The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding resumed from a short break in great order two starts back with a hard-fought win over 2000m at this track.
He gave a good account of himself last start in the Turnbull Stakes where he enjoyed a nice run and fought gamely for a 2.5 length fifth.
The son of Tavistock was five weeks between runs so will have come on greatly.
He gets in with a light weight and will run another honest race, but I just have my doubts that he is up to turning the tables on the likes of Buckaroo.
10. Duke De Sessa (6)
Price: $19.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding gave an excellent account of himself last start in the Turnbull Stakes when setting the pace and boxing on well for a 2.1 length fourth.
However, it’s been 101 weeks since he last won so there must be a big query regarding whether he knows how to find the winner’s stall.
11. Knight’s Choice (14)
Price: $101.00
Sheila Laxon won the 2001 Caulfield Cup with Ethereal, but I strongly doubt she’ll be adding another title with co-trainer John Symons and this guy.
The son of Extreme Choice failed to beat a runner home last start in the Turnbull Stakes and warrants being the rank outsider of the field.
12. Muramasa (5)
Price: $23.00
The son of Deep Impact won’t know himself with just 51kg after carrying 60kg last start over 1800m on the Hillside track when finishing a head third.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and will appreciate the rise in distance just as he did this time last year.
During last year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Busuttin & Young-trained gelding won the G3 Coongy Cup second-up before taking out the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600m.
He can run a cheeky race, but I’m happy to let him go without me until he proves himself at this level.
13. Zardozi (12)
Price: $7.50
The Godolphin mare relished the rise to this distance last start when fighting bravely with Land Legend for a nose second in The Metropolitan.
She’s a proven performer over this distance range, ending last preparation with a close second in the G1 Australian Oaks as well as bolting in to win the G1 VRC Oaks at Flemington during last year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The four-year-old’s chances have been bolstered by the booking of Hong Kong-based jockey Andrea Atzeni who is no stranger to Australian G1 success after piloting Circle Of Fire to his Sydney Cup win.
The daughter of Kingman has drawn beautifully and should get every chance with a midfield run.
14. Coco Sun (20)
Price: $35.00
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained mare raced extremely well last preparation, winning a Benchmark 64 Handicap first-up before going on to claim the G1 South Australian Derby just three starts later in impressive fashion.
She produced a solid performance first-up over the unsuitable trip of 1400m before trying hard in the Underwood Stakes and Might And Power.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun is at peak fitness now and should enjoy the rise to this distance.
While I think she has tremendous upside, this race looks a bit rich for her at this stage.
15. Deny Knowledge (17)
Price: $10.00
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained mare caused a boilover last start when she was able to lead in the Might And Power and hold off Mr Brightside to win narrowly.
It was the daughter of Pride Of Dubai’s maiden G1 win and followed up a brave effort first-up in the Underwood Stakes when caught wide in the run.
Just three starts ago, she won the Grafton Cup so she’s arguably racing in the form of her career as a seven-year-old.
Craig Newitt replaces Mark Zahra and will look to cross from the wide barrier and dictate in front.
That looks to be a tougher task here, but with just 50.5kg she could give plenty of cheek.
16. Valiant King (18)
Price: $71.00
The Chris Waller-trained import finished sixth in last year’s edition of this race but he’s not in anywhere the same form this time around.
He didn’t handle his first time the Sydney way of going and finished a long last in the Kingston Town Stakes before being well beaten in the Turnbull Stakes.
The five-year-old gelding needs racing and I doubt he adds a second win to his CV here.
17. Positivity (9)
Price: $31.00
The Andrew Forsman-trained mare finished last preparation with a win in the G3 SA Fillies Classic and has continued that good form into this campaign.
She made a strong return in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes over 1700m here three starts back when finishing a head second before claiming the G3 Naturalism Stakes in a tight go.
The daughter of Almanzor kept coming last start in the G3 Bart Cummings to finish 2.4 lengths seventh.
She’ll have no problem with the distance and arrives here in peak fitness, it will just be a matter of whether the lightly raced four-year-old is able to match it with more seasoned gallopers.
18. Sayedaty Sadaty (2)
Price: $15.00
The European three-year-old is the youngest horse in the race and brings strong form lines to this year’s Caulfield Cup.
He was last seen finishing third to Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel in the G3 Gordon Stakes over this distance at Goodwood when not fully wound up.
The start prior he finished fifth to City Of Troy in the G1 Epsom Derby which has produced some incredible form such as City Of Troy subsequently winning two G1s and third placed Los Angeles going on to win the G1 Irish Derby.
Now trained by Ciaron Maher and owned by Australian Bloodstock, he gives similar vibes to another of that ownership’s import success stories Gold Trip who finished a close second in the 2022 Caulfield Cup before going on to win that year’s Melbourne Cup.
He maps to enjoy a great run and with just 50kg on his back he may prove hard to hold out.
19e. Fancy Man (3)
Price: $67.00
The Neasham & Archibald-trained gelding endured a tough run first-up in the Naturalism Stakes before running on well to finish 2.3 lengths third in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes last start.
He’s on the quick back-up and looks ready to peak third-up but last year’s Queensland Cup winner looks outclassed here.
20e. Berkshire Breeze (15)
Price: $67.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained grey gelding won three in a row earlier this preparation before having his chance in the G3 Archer Stakes and the Bart Cummings.
Needs two horses to be scratched to gain a start and looks more likely of heading to Sydney for the G3 St Leger Stakes.
21e. Francesco Guardi (11)
Price: $67.00
The Chris Waller-trained son of Frankel registered the fastest closing sectionals of the Naturalism Stakes first-up to finish 3.7 lengths ninth.
He gave a good account of himself last start in the Turnbull Stakes when four lengths behind Via Sistina.
Clearly, he wants a longer trip.
The Judgement
Buckaroo has been in elite form this preparation and I’m sticking fat.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding fought tooth and nail last start in the Turnbull Stakes to be beaten by just a head by the very good Via Sistina with a clear gap to third.
He carried 58kg that day and will now drop to just 54.5kg so it’s extremely hard to see any of the horses that were in the Turnbull Stakes turning the table.
He handled Caulfield beautifully when winning the Underwood Stakes here two starts ago and he handles any going.
Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira can give him a beautiful run and I expect him to be once again fighting out the finish.
Selections:
1st – Buckaroo (2)
2nd – Sayedaty Sadaty (18)
3rd – Land Legend (8)
4th – Eliyass (7)