The Caulfield Cup takes place at Caulfield on Saturday.
Raced over 2400m under handicap conditions and worth $5 million with winning connections to rake in $3m.
Last year, Incentivise won in dominant fashion while Verry Elleegant (2020), Mer De Glace (2019) and Best Solution (2018) are recent winners.
See our guide below:
-THE TOP HOPES-
17. Smokin’ Romans (5)
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace / Jamie Kah (51.5kg)
Consistent galloper who has graduated from winning BM78s 15 months ago to becoming the firm Caulfield Cup favourite.
Has a light weight, plonks himself on the speed, should get a nice run from the gate, handles the wet, Jamie Kah rides and it’s not the strongest of Cups. All ticks.
5. Numerian (10)
Annabel Neasham / Tommy Berry (55.5kg)
Former Irish horse who enters this race on the back of some solid form in running second behind Knights Order and then Cascadian.
Won twice last prep including at G2 level over 2200m at Eagle Farm.
He should push forward under Tommy Berry who will give him every possible hope. Presents as good value.
-IN THE MIX-
3. Knights Order (18)
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Tim Clark (55.5kg)
Front-runner who will have no choice but to jump and lead them up from the wide gate.
Was solid in the Turnbull when fourth behind Smokin’ Romans following a third to Alegron and a win over Numerian.
Has fitness on his side and will be in it for a long way provided Tim Clark gets him across without much fuss.
9. Alegron (14)
James Cummings / Ethan Brown (53kg)
Last-start winner who comes into this having not raced for almost a month.
James Cummings has trained a number of feature race winners of late, which certainly throws him into the mix.
Ethan Brown, who rode Smokin’ Romans to victory in the Turnbull, takes the ride at 53kg.
10. Benaud (20)
John O’Shea / Regan Bayliss (53kg)
Four-year-old gelding who has one career win to his name which came on debut at Nowra in September last year.
Ran nicely when second behind Alegron two starts back.
Drawn the carpark and will get back in the run so may require luck.
6. Nonconformist (15)
Grahame Begg / Jordan Childs (54.5kg)
Has been set for this race since running second to Incentivise last year.
His form this prep has been questionable and he’d have to improve lengths to be a real chance.
Does have two placings from two starts at 2400m.
-THE VALUE-
1. Gold Trip (12)
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace / Mark Zahra (57.5kg)
The stablemate to the favourite Smokin’ Romans who was fancied for this race a few weeks out.
The French import has raced well over 2400m previously and his last run in the Turnbull suggests he will run on well.
Does have the top weight to contend with though.
2. Duais (9)
Edward Cummings / Josh Parr (55.5kg)
The mare was highly fancied for this a few weeks back but her form in the lead-up has been worrying.
Drawn nicely in the middle so it will be interesting to see where Josh Parr has her in the run.
Her best is good enough to win this but she hasn’t been showing it of late.
8. No Compromise (13)
Chris Waller / Craig Newitt (53.5kg)
Last-start Metropolitan winner who races well over this distance. Doesn’t mind a wet surface either.
Chris Waller is quite good at training his horses for their target race.
TOP 4 SELECTIONS
Numerian
Smokin’ Romans
Alegron
Gold Trip
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