Caulfield Cup to again provide pointer to Melbourne Cup

Posted on | October 15, 2015 | No Comments

As is the case nearly every year, the bookmakers’ odds for the 2015 Melbourne Cup will change significantly after the running of this years’ Caulfield Cup.  The 2400m Caulfield Cup is the traditional lead up for the two-mile Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s richest and most famous horse race. It is run over 3200m on the first Tuesday in November every year. In recent years, the race has become a truly international event, with runners from Europe, France, Ireland and Japan running in and winning the great race. Even the international raiders realise that is important to have at least one lead up run in Australia, for most ideally, this is the Caulfield Cup. Only one foreign galloper has won the race without having a start in Australia, and that was Vintage Crop way back in 1993.
Like the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup is a handicap event. The pre race favourite for this years’ Caulfield Cup is the New Zealand trained Mongolian Khan ($4.40), winner of the New Zealand and Australian Derbies. Also in the market are: Hauraki ($9), Snow Sky ($11) and Fame Game ($11) – odds supplied by Sportsbet.com.au.

Fame Game is also the current $7 favourite for the Melbourne Cup. If the Japanese stayer were to run well at Caulfield, his odds would be even shorter come Cup week. Of the top 6 fancies for the Melbourne Cup, four are running in the 2400m Caulfield Cup, underlying the importance of the race.

Australians take their sport and their horse racing seriously. The Melbourne Cup is a public holiday for all Melbournians, but the race has a far greater impact than that. It’s billed as the race that stops a nation and it’s true; it even has stops most New Zealanders in their tracks too.
The Melbourne Cup supersedes all other events when it comes to betting in Australia. Nearly $200 million dollars are wagered on the race alone. According to Bookie Guide editor Brendan Guild, the race represents the zenith of the bookmaking year. “Every year we see betting activity for the all of the bookmakers increase significantly in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup. The Caulfield Cup generally marks the start of the build up towards the Cup, when the favoured runners have had their final hit out.”

The 2040m weight-for-age Cox Plate is also a feature lead up race for Cup hopefuls. In recent times the regional Geelong Cup has also proved to be a vital pointer to Melbourne Cup betting. Three international raiders have come through the race and gone on to win the Cup, they being: Dunaden, Americain and Media Puzzle. But for many, the Caulfield Cup still remains the key lead up race and form guide for the Melbourne Cup.

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