| What | 2024 Caulfield Cup |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria |
| When | Saturday, October 19, 2024 |
| Prizemoney | $5,000,000 |
| Distance | 2400m |
| Status | Group 1 |
| Conditions | Handicap |
| 2023 winner | Without A Fight (7) | Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jockey: Mark Zahra (55.5kg) |
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The prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is the first of three majors in Victoria throughout the Spring Carnival, and the 2024 edition has a capacity field of 18 vying for the $5 million on offer.
The Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo has opened as a $4 favourite with horse racing bookmakers as he looks to continue his superb form to begin this campaign. Eliyass, despite needing to jump from the widest barrier, holds the second line of betting at $6.50, while Deny Knowledge and Zardozi are next at $7.50 apiece. Outside of those four, upwards of $10 is available for every other Caulfield Cup runner.
The 147th Caulfield Cup looks set to be run on rain-affected ground, but despite the wet forecast for Friday and Saturday, it is likely the surface will only get to a Soft 6 or 7 at worst.
Keep reading for HorseBetting’s full runner-by-runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Caulfield Cup.
1. Kalapour (4)
8yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Ben Melham (55kg)
Kalapour has hardly set the world on fire in three runs this campaign, and despite being on the quick backup after running sixth in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m), the son of War Command has nine lengths to make up on the likes of Deny Knowledge and Eliyass. As such, the triple figures about the Tancred Stakes (2400m) winner from the autumn seems about right.
2. Buckaroo (8)
6yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Joao Moreira (54.5kg)
Buckaroo won the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m) before running second to Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m). He seemingly peaked on his run inside the final 50m last time out, suggesting the 2400m may be a bit steep for the son of Fastnet Rock. With a genuinely run race expected with speed drawn out wide, the favourite could be struggling inside the final furlong.
3. Circle Of Fire (Barrier)
5yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher | J: John Allen (54.5kg)
Circle Of Fire was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) during the autumn and looks like he is building nicely towards a tilt at the Melbourne Cup (3200m). The 2400m might be half a mile short for the son of Almanzor, but look for him to be hitting the line strongly as he progresses towards that first Tuesday in November.
4. Warp Speed (19)
6yo Horse | T: Noboru Takagi | J: Akira Sugawara (54.5kg)
Warp Speed is another who is likely preparing to strike in the Melbourne Cup, and the sole Japanese runner in the field might want firmer ground than what he may encounter if the rain comes. In two starts on yielding ground, the Noboru Takagi-trainer stayer is yet to finish in the top three, and having drawn out in barrier 19, his task has not been made any easier.
5. Huetor (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Peter Snowden | J: Luke Currie (54kg)
The $61 on offer with horse betting sites seems massive overs for Huetor. The two-time Doomben Cup (2000m) put in a stinker second-up in the Turnbull, but the way he hit the line behind Buckaroo in the Underwood Stakes first-up suggests he is going as well as ever. With three wins from seven third-up runs, the son of Archipenko should gain a perfect run in transit from barrier seven.
6. Warmonger (16)
4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Michael Dee (53.5kg)
Warmonger is another who will be looking to bounce back from a poor run in the Turnbull after putting in an eye-catching run first-up from a spell. The Queensland Derby (2400m) winner looks to be screaming out for the staying trips and has been aimed at races like this and the Melbourne Cup. He is going to need a stack of luck early from barrier 16, but if Mick Dee can weave his magic and somehow land him in the first half of the field with cover, Warmonger can add further Group 1 success.
7. Eliyass (21)
6yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (53kg)
Eliyass is yet to step out at 2400m, but everything he has done in his 12-start career suggests he is going to handle the trip with aplomb. He has 1.5 lengths to make upon on Buckaroo following their clash in the Turnbull, but with just 53kg on his back and a tactical advantage on most of his rivals, Eliyass will look the winner at one point or another despite drawing the widest barrier. Expect Tim Clark to land the son of Le Havre outside the leader early before trying to overhaul her in the home straight.
8. Land Legend (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Purton (53kg)
Last-start Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) winner Land Legend will jump from barrier one under Zac Purton and will likely look to hold the box seat, as long as he gets away cleanly. He was only getting stronger towards the back end of the 2400m last time out and out-bobbed Zardozi where it mattered most. He may need a touch of luck when entering the home straight, but if the breaks come his way, Land Legend can hand Waller a third Caulfield Cup since 2020.
9. Young Werther (10)
7yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Jye McNeil (52.5kg)
The only time Young Werther has missed a drum in four runs at 2400m was when finishing seven lengths off Incentivise in the 2021 Caulfield Cup. Outside of that, the son of Tavistock has finished close behind the likes of subsequent Group 1 winner Explosive Jack and Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare. He was more than serviceable when finishing 2.5 lengths back in fifth in the Turnbull, and although Jye McNeil will need a touch of luck finding cover from barrier 10, Young Werther cannot be dismissed.
10. Duke De Sessa (6)
6yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Harry Coffey (52kg)
Duke De Sessa is still a maiden on these shores, but the six-year-old gelding has been building nicely towards his Caulfield Cup tilt. The Ciaron Maher-trained runner was overhauled in the Underwood when finding 1800m a touch too sharp, while he was only headed inside the final 100m in the Turnbull. He will not need to work hard to find the front from barrier six, and if Harry Coffey can settle him on the heels of Deny Knowledge and Eliyass, Duke De Sessa will be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking.
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11. Knight’s Choice (14)
5yo Gelding | T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon | J: Robbie Dolan (51.5kg)
Knight’s Choice is $201 for a reason. He has been poor in both runs this campaign and simply lacks the class required to be fighting out the finish in the Caulfield Cup.
12. Muramasa (5)
5yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Daniel Moor (51kg)
Muramasa has been racing competitively in weaker company in his two starts this time in, and with only 51kg in the saddle, he has some claims to filling the minor placings. However, he is seemingly much better on top of the ground and will likely struggle in this field on a rain-affected track.
13. Zardozi (12)
4yo Mare | T: James Cummings | J: Andrea Atzeni (51kg)
Zardozi has run second in both of her starts at 2400m, including when narrowly defeated by Land Legend in the Metropolitan. The Godolphin mare gains the services of Andrea Atzeni, who knows a thing or two about winning big staying features, and unlike most of her rivals, we know Zardozi has no issue in seeing out the trip. The 2023 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner has been building nicely towards the Caulfield Cup, and as long as she gains a nice tow into the race, she will be thundering home down the heart of the track.
14. Coco Sun (20)
4yo Mare | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Karis Teetan (50.5kg)
After winning the South Australian Derby (2500m) in the autumn, Coco Sun has hardly impressed in three runs this time in. The Autumn Sun progeny needs to make up 6.3 lengths on Deny Knowledge, and from barrier 20, it looks like she will either be caught wide or land too far back to be featuring in the finish.
15. Deny Knowledge (17)
7yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Craig Newitt (50.5kg)
Deny Knowledge produced a superb front-running effort to hold off Mr Brightside and Atishu in last weekend’s Might And Power Stakes, but is that the right form line for the Caulfield Cup? Both of those horses want no further than 2000m, and despite being a winner over 2350m in the Grafton Cup, this seven-year-old mare will need to go to an even higher level than she produced to claim victory last Saturday. Craig Newitt will be aggressive early to find the lead from barrier 17, but that raises concerns about her ability to see out a tough 2400m.
16. Valiant King (18)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Teo Nugent (50.5kg)
Valiant King finished sixth in this race last year, but he is hardly setting the world on fire through two runs this campaign. The five-year-old former European has a stack of ground to make up on Saturday and is potentially better off over further in a Melbourne Cup.
17. Positivity (9)
4yo Mare | T: Andrew Forsman | J: Winona Costin (50kg)
The Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity won her way into the Caulfield Cup after saluting in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) two races back thanks to a dream run tucked in behind the speed. With a stack of early speed, she draws perfectly in barrier nine to stalk the lead throughout. At $41, if the breaks come her way, she isn’t the worst roughie going around.
18. Sayedaty Sadaty (2)
4yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ben Thompson (50kg)
Sayedaty Sadaty might have the worst name in the field, but he brings one of the better form lines into Saturday’s feature. The four-year-old was beaten four lengths by Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel on August 1 at Goodwood, which came after chasing home City Of Troy at Epsom. He will kick up from the inside draw, and at just 50kg, Ben Thompson will have him in a striking position throughout. He has just one win in 10 starts, but if the son of Anodin can bring his European form to Caulfield, he could challenge.
19. Fancy Man (1E) (3)
7yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: TBC (50kg)
In need of a scratching to get in, Fancy Man is simply outclassed even if he does get a start. He could not overhaul Herman Hesse and Okita Soushi in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last weekend and just doesn’t quite have the runs on the board that his rivals have.
20. Berkshire Breeze (2E) (15)
6yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: TBC (50kg)
Berkshire Breeze will need a stack of luck to gain a start, but if he does, the son of Masteercraftsman is not the worst $101 shot going around. He finished 1.8 lengths off Just Fine in The Bart Cummings (2520m) and wasn’t beaten far in the Archer Stakes (2500m) the start prior. He will stay all day and has tactical versatility on his side.
21. Francesco Guardi (3E) (11)
7yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: TBC (52kg)
It is remarkable that Francesco Guardi didn’t gain a start automatically in the 2024 Caulfield Cup, because if he does find a way into the field, he is a genuine winning hope. In each of his last three runs, the son of Frankel has hit the line strongly and seemed to be screaming out for the 2400m. He hasn’t won in close to two years, but wherever he is seen next at 2400m or further, he will be hard to beat.
2024 Caulfield Cup selections & best bets
- 13
ZARDOZI
- 7
ELIYASS
- 8
LAND LEGEND
- 5
HUETOR
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win | Zardozi (#13) @ +700 with Neds |
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