One of the three spring carnival feature races, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup is run over 2400m at Caulfield Racecourse under handicap conditions.
First run in 1879, the race has been won by some champion staying horses including Rising Fast (1954/55), Galilee (1966) and Might And Power (1997).
In recent years the race has been won by overseas horses that have an eye to the Melbourne Cup including Admire Rakti, Best Solution and Mer De Glace.
Another quality field has been assembled this year, and we have run through every runner below.
1. Vauban (13)
- Odds: $11.00 (at time of publish)
Heading toward his third Melbourne Cup start and is ticking along nicely as he gets out to a more suitable distance.
Showed a quick turn of foot first up to finish third behind Lindermann over 1600m and his two starts since then have been solid enough.
This is his first Australian campaign where he’s been given the ability to have a few starts before he hits his peak and it wouldn’t surprise if he was right in the finish.
2. Presage Nocturne (8)
- Odds: $27.00 (at time of publish)
French horse who has been very consistent across his short racing career to date having placed in 14 of his 16 starts.
Put together back-to-back stakes wins during his last campaign which culminated in a placing at Group 1 level over 3100m.
He is a grey son of the late Wootton Bassett, and the main query is whether they will be too sharp for him over the shorter distance.
3. Middle Earth (3)
- Odds: $15.00 (at time of publish)
Had a good winning record overseas before arriving in Australia and managed to win in his very first start on our shores in the Australian Cup Prelude.
He has failed to fire a shot in five subsequent starts and would need to find some of his best form in Europe.
Mark Zahra and barrier three are big positives.
4. Meydaan (5)
- Odds: $7.50 (at time of publish)
Lighted raced son of Frankel who has won three of his 15 career starts in England.
Was well beaten in a pair of listed races in June and July but has placed in his last two at Group 3 level leading into his trip across the country.
He’ll appreciate the drop in weight as well as the soft draw in barrier five and that European form usually stacks up in this race.
5. Absurde (1)
- Odds: $23.00 (at time of publish)
Another import that has renewed his passport and is back for another tilt at our great race.
He finished seventh in 2023 and then was beaten just 1.7 lengths behind Knight’s Choice last year.
The son of Fastnet Rock has been placed in all five starts since then including a third in the Irish St Leger Trial last time out so why not have another crack!
6. Land Legend (15)
- Odds: $20 (at time of publish)
A former import who has been in Australia since 2023, winning the St Leger over 2600m at Randwick when making his debut in the country.
Won the Group 1 Metropolitan last year before finishing third in the Caulfield Cup and should be nearing peak fitness at this stage of his campaign.
7. Zardozi (11)
- Odds: $23 (at time of publish)
Was well beaten in this race last year but finished within 1.3 lengths off the Melbourne Cup winner two starts later.
She has the ability to win a win of this quality at her best and all three runs so far this campaign have been promising.
8. Adelaide River (9)
- Odds: $31 (at time of publish)
Was a consistent performer in England in her early racing life but has struggled a bit since arriving.
Has placed just once in nine Australian runs and that was a narrow defeat behind Birdman two starts back in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes.
Needs to lift.
9. Bankers Choice (14)
- Odds: $91 (at time of publish)
Closed out his autumn campaign with back-to-back wins including the Mornington Cup.
Is competitive at a lower level and this looks too tough.
10. Deakin (7)
- Odds: $19.00 (at time of publish)
Came through the grades impressively last campaign by winning two listed races over 2500m and 2600m proving he is a genuine stayer in the making.
Battled on okay behind Sir Delius in the Turnbull Stakes but lacked any dash at the end of the race.
Looks ready to peak now.
11. Golden Snap (18)
- Odds: $19 (at time of publish)
Beware the Japanese raiders as they have a great record in this race.
This is a lightly raced six-year-old mare who has placed in 11 of her 16 career starts but none of those have been in black type races.
Three starts at group 2 level without placing but write the staying Japanese horses at your own risk.
12. Revelare (12)
- Odds: $20 (at time of publish)
Has had a very solid campaign that has included two nice wins, one of which was over 2500m at Flemington.
The stewards were concerned that he recovered slowly after the very quick tempo in The Bart Cummings, but he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t right.
Eight wins from just 12 career starts suggests he knows where the winning post is!
13. River Of Stars (4)
- Odds: $81 (at time of publish)
Came to Australia with very high hopes having had a successful start to her racing life in Europe which included a placing in a Group 1 in Paris right before she arrived.
She placed in the Group 1 Sydney Cup in just her second start in Australia and although she has been unplaced in three runs this campaign, she gets out to a more suitable distance now.
At almost triple figures, she is well over the odds!
14. Birdman (10)
- Odds: $16 (at time of publish)
Chris Waller saddles up this lightly raced five-year-old gelding.
Was sent to Australia this time last year but nothing went to plan when he was found to be lame after the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup.
He worked through the grades well and produced his first win in Australia in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes two starts back.
Is being asked to carry one kilo more than his seventh in the Metropolitan last time out.
15. Half Yours (2)
- Odds: $2.90 (at time of publish)
A rock-hard fit horse capitalising on some fantastic form? Or a genuinely exciting and progressive horse with untapped ability?
There is no reason that he can’t be both, but the punters certainly believe he is ready to win a Group 1 Caulfield Cup!
He won a benchmark 64 at Seymour in April and seven starts later he is the $3.00 one of our biggest races.
16. Royal Supremacy (6)
- Odds: $10 (at time of publish)
Attempting to replicate Railing in 2005 and win the Metropolitan/Caulfield Cup double.
The distance will not be a concern, but he is being asked to carry 2.5kg more than his last start win.
17. Valiant King (16)
- Odds: $23 (at time of publish)
The grey son of Roaring Lion had just one win during his 18-start career before he stormed over the top of his rivals to score by almost three lengths in the Bart Cummings two weeks ago.
His racing patterns means that he needs to pace to be on up front but he showed what he is capable of and has just 52kg on his back.
18. Plymouth (17)
- Odds: $61 (at time of publish)
I’m not sure the Benalla Cup is the right form for this race back after winning that he was narrowly denied in the Group 2 Hebert Power last time out at this track and distance.
Is on the short back up but has no weight on his back!
SELECTIONS
- 1st: No. 1 Vauban
- 2nd: No. 15 Half Yours
- 3rd: No. 10 Deakin
- 4th: No. 5 Absurde