There are 18 of the season’s best stayers in the mix to face off at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday in the first three of the ‘Big 3’ spring majors – the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) – and below we have a look at the arguments for and against every runner in the field as they gear up for the classic.

With a bumper line-up of horses to do the Caulfield Cup form on it can seem overwhelming to go through all of their lead-up performances, track / distance stats, the stables, staying pedigree, and more to sort the best gallopers to get behind in the latest edition of the world’s richest mile and a half handicap race.

We have a Chris Waller-trained favourite yet to win over the distance but impressing with his runs this year as Buckaroo looks to silence the doubters over the 2400m.

The talented Eliyass is drawn the outside barrier in the 2024 Caulfield Cup field while Waller’s The Metropolitan winner out of Sydney, Land Legend, gets the inside run chasing the interstate double.

Heroic 10-length Queensland Derby winner Warmonger is the market mover out to win back the love of the punters and there is a bunch of outsiders in Caulfield Cup betting that could just come out and dominate!

So, let’s get into it so you can head over to Ladbrokes.com.au and lock in your Caulfield Cup tips!

1. Kalapour (4)

• Pros: Group 1 Tancred winner at big odds over this distance. Sydney Cup 3rd over two miles. Can stay. Draws well. Drops in weight.
• Cons: Caulfield Stakes sixth was disappointing last start. Better the Sydney way.

2. Buckaroo (8)

• Pros: Compressed weights put him right in the mix. Options from the gate. Joao Moreira in the saddle. Waller-trained. Nicely bred. Underwood winner by 3.5 lengths. Rock-hard fit. Narrowly denied in the Group 1 Turnbull last start. Good form lines.
• Cons: Yet to win over further than 1800m.

3. Circle Of Fire (13)

• Pros: Maher-trained. Sydney Cup winner. Will relish getting out to a trip now 3rd up. Has won 3rd up previously. Down in weight. Speed will suit as a dour stayer.
• Cons: Really needs to improve on the flat Turnbull 9th to challenge the likes of Buckaroo. Will be better over 3200m at Flemington.

4. Warp Speed (19)

• Pros: Japanese raider with strong from at home. Great 2400m record. Work since arriving has looked good. Tenno Sho form lines. Well weighted.
• Cons: Really wide draw. Might need the run. Better for Melbourne Cup at 3200m.

5. Huetor (7)

• Pros: Nice draw. Dual Doomben Cup winner. Underwood 2nd fresh.
• Cons: Turnbull 12th v. disappointing. Had his go. Eight-year-old.

6. Warmonger (16)

• Pros: Dynamic 10 length QLD Derby win at the 2400m. Third-up with Michael Dee riding on 53.5kg. Has never carried less than 56.5kg so extremely well weighted. Market mover. Getting to a good distance now. Rain will help.
• Cons: Wide draw. Failed to impress in the Turnbull (11th).

7. Eliyass (21)

• Pros: Nine-time winner from 12 starts. Lightly raced and nicely bred. Has upside still. Group 3 Kingston Town winner first-up. Strong form race. Turnbull 3rd also good from out wide (16).
• Cons: Far outside alley. Yet to win over further than 2000m. Some look better in the weights.

8. Land Legend (1)

• Pros: Waller-trained and rails-drawn as a last start Group 1 winner of The Metrop at this trip but in Sydney. Hong Kong-based Zac Purton riding. St. Leger winner over 2600m here by a big margin.
• Cons: One of the few going up in weight. Inside alley might see him swamped. Prefers no rain. Didn’t beat Zardozi by much last time out.

9. Young Werther (10)

• Pros: Will be flying with 52.5kg. Carried 61kg fresh to beat Duke De Sessa over 2000m here in August. Fifth in the Turnbull had merit. Good place rate over 2400m (4:0-2-1). Jye McNeil rides. Forgotten by the punters so flies under the radar with no pressure.
• Cons: Yet to win over further than 2040m. Has he the same class as others out of the same lead-up race?

10. Duke De Sessa (6)

• Pros: Irish-bred and carrying just 52kg from a good gate six draw. Coming via the right form races with back-to-back 4ths in the Underwood and Turnbull. Dual winner at the distance.
• Cons: Six starts without a win at the track. Needs to really improve to beat those that have recently had his measure. Yet to win in Australia. Lengthy drought since last triumph.

11. Knight’s Choice (14)

• Pros: 2nd to Fawkner Park in Brisbane’s The Q22. Caloundra Cup 4th in the mud with a big weight was eye-catching.
• Cons: Doesn’t look a Group 1 horse. Outclassed in this field. 9th in the Underwood and dead last (16th) in the Turnbull. Yet to win at the track or distance. Won’t be a threat.

12. Muramasa (5)

• Pros: Lovely draw. Daniel Moor rides on 51kg third-up. Won up to 2600m so genuine stayer. Proven at Caulfield. Two placings with big weights this prep. Deserving a shot.
• Cons: Needs to prove his class now off runs against much easier rivals.

13. Zardozi (12)

• Pros: Class mare for Godolphin going v. well. Denied right on the line for a Group 1 The Metrop 2nd over this distance in Sydney last time out. Reigning VRC Oaks winner by a big margin so will see this distance out easily. ATC Oaks runner-up in the autumn. Ready to peak now with 51kg.
• Cons: First look at the Caulfield track. Sydney or Melbourne form lines stronger leading-up?

14. Coco Sun (20)

• Pros: Daughter of The Autumn Sun. Progressive. Group 1 SA Derby winner when ridden by Jamie Kah to defeat subsequent 10 length Queensland Derby champ Warmonger. Getting to her pet distance now.
• Cons: Drawn second outside barrier. Inexperienced hoop at this level, Karis Teetan, aboard. Five starts here without a top three finish. Others going stronger.

15. Deny Knowledge (17)

• Pros: Carries just 50.5kg with Craig Newitt on. Anthony & Sam Freedman mare who is set to lead. Grafton Cup winner over 2350m gets the distance. Group 1 Caulfield Stakes win here with 57kg defeating Mr Brightside in all-the-way style last start. Quick back-up suits.
• Cons: Wide out. Might use a bit too much gas early to cross from that gate. Could be vulnerable the closing stages.

16. Valiant King (18)

• Pros: Waller-trained and carrying just 50.5kg. Import who is a dual runner-up at the distance. Raced 6th last year to Without A Fight with 50kg on debut down under without being disgraced last year.
• Cons: Drawn wide and a surprise final acceptor really based on his form this time in. Ran last (16th) in the Group 3 Kingston Town then a flat 10th at triple figures in the Turnbull.

17. Positivity (9)

• Pros: Good gate and recently won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes here. Proven up to 2500m. Back from 54.5kg to the 50kg lightweight on Saturday. Bart Cummings run last start behind Melbourne Cup contenders from a wide draw with more weight had merit.
• Cons: Notable class rise here. Comes via weaker form races than most of these.

18. Sayedaty Sadaty (2)

• Pros: Barrier two and carrying just 50kg for his Australian race debut. Now with Maher. 3rd at The Goodwood in Great Britain with plenty more weight at this distance last start in August. Always wary of untapped imports.
• Cons: Likely needs the run. Won’t like too much rain. Prefer the proven performances this prep.

19e. Fancy Man (3)

• Pros: Could get a run as the 1st emergency from a favourable alley. Comes from a nice stable and carries no weight. Proven at the distance and Group 2 Herbert Power 3rd last time out was credible.
• Cons: Not quite the same grade as most of these. Not sure about the race he comes out of. No time between runs could see him gassed.

20e. Berkshire Breeze (15)

• Pros: Maher-trained and ultra-consistent. Loves this distance and handles wet going. 3rd in the Lexus Stakes behind Point King who looks a genuine Melbourne Cup hope. 4th in the Bart Cummings last time out.
• Cons: Unlikely to get a start. Wider out. Not up to this grade. Weaker form races.

21e. Francesco Guardi (11)

• Pros: Waller stable son of Frankel. Has won over 2500m before. Carries 52kg.
• Cons: Can’t see him getting a start. 17th last year and unlikely to do much better even if he lines-up. Disappointing recent form. All his stablemates in this race are far better hopes.

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