<p>The Caulfield Cup is one of the biggest races on the Australian racing calendar. It has a rich history and was first run in 1879 when it was held in the autumn.</p> <p>In 1881, a second Caulfield Cup was held in the spring, and it has held its place as a significant part of the Spring Racing Carnival and, of course, the ideal race to complement Australia’s most important race, the Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington just 17 days later.</p> <p>Sportsbet is honoured to be the main sponsor of such an iconic Aussie race and delighted to bring all our punters this comprehensive Caulfield Cup preview.</p> <p>Looking for all the key dates, details and tips for the 2024 Caulfield Cup? You’ve come to the right place! Welcome to the Huddle’s Caulfield Cup Hub, proudly brought to you by Sportsbet.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, October 19, 2024.</p> <p><strong>Racecourse:</strong> Caulfield Racecourse.</p> <p><strong>Distance:</strong> 2400m.</p> <p><strong>Condition:</strong> Handicap.</p> <p><strong>Status:</strong> Group 1.</p> <p><strong>Total prize money: </strong>$5 million.</p> <p><strong>Track type:</strong> Turf.</p> <p><strong>Last year’s winner:</strong> Without A Fight.</p> <p><strong>Sportsbet Caulfield Cup: </strong>Race 9 (5.15 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Weather and Track</h3> <p>The Bureau Of Meteorology is tipping up to 30mm of rain to fall on Melbourne Thursday night and Friday, with occasional showers on race day.</p> <p>The Caulfield track managers will be conscious of that, but we are doing our tips for the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup with the expectation of a soft track.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 Contenders</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Warmonger</strong></p> <p>Exciting young stayer who won the Queensland Derby by 10 lengths. The wetter the better, but he could be a star.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Buckaroo</strong></p> <p>Earned his Caulfield Cup run with a decisive win in the Underwood Stakes at weight-for-age. He drops from 59kg to 54.5kg.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Fawkner Park</strong></p> <p>He was disappointing in the Underwood Stakes, but he’s worked his way through the grades and will improve.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Coco Sun</strong></p> <p>She won the South Australian Derby, beating the males, in May. Hong Kong jockey Karis Teetan has been booked to ride her.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Place Du Carrousel</strong></p> <p>Another one who flopped in the Underwood. She is a Group 2 winner in France over the Caulfield Cup distance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Positivity</strong></p> <p>New Zealand mare who won the Naturalism Stakes in good style. Staying the trip is not a problem for her.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Huetor</strong></p> <p>Produced a great Caulfield Cup trial with his second in the Underwood Stakes, coming from last. 54kg is the lightest weight he’s carried for ages.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Zardozi</strong></p> <p>Classy staying mare, trained by James Cummings. She won the VRC Oaks last spring, so she’s proven at the distance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Eliyass</strong></p> <p>Emerging stayer trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Like all their stayers, he’s got grit. Has the class to win this.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Francesco Guardi</strong></p> <p>Injury has hindered him over the past 18 months, but trainer Chris Waller is confident he’s on the way back.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Saint George</strong></p> <p>Import who has excellent UK form. Trainer Ciaron Maher believes he’s good enough to win this race, but he must win a lead-up to make the field. And who doesn’t love a grey?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Warp Speed</strong></p> <p>Comes from Japan as an unknown quality. However, the Japanese stayers are elite, and he’s got similar form lines to past Japanese winners of the Caulfield Cup.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Top Tip</h3> <p><strong>Warmonger</strong></p> <p>He may have been disappointing in the Turnbull Stakes, but reports are that he’s thrived since and he may get the wet track he adores. Remember, he won the Queensland Derby by 10 lengths in the wet. Expect jockey Mick Dee to be more aggressive on him now that Warmonger is fit and focused.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Buckaroo</strong></p> <p>Trainer Chris Waller has this former import flying. A win in the G1 Underwood Stakes and a game second behind Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes is the best form. Although he’s unknown at 2400 metres, he looks to be the horse the others have to beat.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Eliyass</strong></p> <p>He suffered his first defeat when third in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington when he raced on the pace and got outsprinted late by Via Sistina and Buckaroo. Handicap conditions suit him better, and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse said during the week that Eliyass is the best stayer she has trained since Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Zardozi and Land Legend</strong></p> <p>These two fought out the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick two weeks ago, with Land Legend getting the nod in a photo finish. They finished many lengths ahead of their rivals. Expect them to be in the Caulfield Cup finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Deny Knowledge</strong></p> <p>Outstanding last week leading throughout to beat Mr Brightside in the G1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield. Free-running mare who will set the pace for a long way, and her trainers, Anthony and Sam Freedman, won this race last year with Without A Fight.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Mystery runner</h3> <p><strong>Warp Speed</strong></p> <p>He comes from Japan with a good record in their best staying races. Reports are that he’s as tough as old boots, and that he rates as good as past Japanese Caulfield Cup winners Admire Ratki.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Roughy</h3> <p><br /> <strong>Young Werther</strong></p> <p>He’s a veteran and he runs his best races at Flemington, but trainer Danny O’Brien has won a Caulfield Cup with a similar horse. Likely to be going around over his true odds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 – Meet the Jockeys</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We’ve run through the horses likely to compete at the 2024 Caulfield Cup, what about the people riding them?</p> <p>Only 11 current jockeys have a Caulfield Cup on their mantelpiece. They are: <em>Mark Zahra (2 wins), Craig Williams (2 wins), Opie Bosson (1 win), Michael Dee (1 win), Vlad Duric (1 win), Damian Lane (1 win), Kerrin McEvoy (1 win), Cory Parish (1 win), Zac Purton (1 win), Brad Rawiller (1 win) and Nash Rawiller (1 win).</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 – Meet the Trainers</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Training a horse to win the Caulfield Cup is a mammoth task, which to most people seems impossible to achieve. Not this lot though! These are the trainers who are past winners of the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup, who have possible runners this year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Chris Waller (2 wins)</strong></p> <p>Buckaroo, Via Sistina, Kovalica, Valiant King, Francesco Guardi, Land Legend, Mare Of Mt Buller, Manzoice, El Bodegon, Etna Rosso and Unusual Legacy.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Ciaron Maher (1 win)</strong></p> <p>Circle Of Fire, Seyedaty Sadaty, Berkshire Breeze, Okita Soushi, Le Don De Vie, and Saint George.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Anthony &amp; Sam Freedman (1 win)</strong></p> <p>Place Du Carrousel, Deny Knowledge, Post Impressionist, and Point King.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gai Waterhouse (now with Adrian Bott - 1 win)</strong></p> <p>Military Mission, Eliyass, Just Fine, Serpentine, and Royal Patronage.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Danny O’Brien (1 win)</strong></p> <p>Vow And Declare, Young Werther.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Hayes brothers (1 win)</strong></p> <p>Que Tempesta.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Andrew Forsman (1 win)</strong></p> <p>Positivity.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 – The Weights</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>At this stage, the Chris Waller-trained mare Via Sistina is the Caulfield Cup top weight with 56kg.</p> <p>However, she is not a certain starter. Fawkner Park and Kalapour are next in weight, with 55kg.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 Key Dates</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Third Declarations:</strong> Tuesday, October 8.</p> <p><strong>Final Declarations:</strong> Tuesday, October 15.</p> <p><strong>Acceptances: </strong>Wednesday, October 16, 9.30am.</p> <p><strong>Barrier Draw: </strong>Wednesday, October 16, around 6.00 pm, following the Caulfield meeting.</p> <p><strong>Race day:</strong> Saturday, October 19.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup Prize Money Breakdown</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the more lucrative races on the Australian calendar, there is a total prize pool of $5 million to be shared among the runners of the 2024 Caulfield Cup depending on where they finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>1st – </strong>$3 million.</p> <p><strong>2nd – </strong>$700,000</p> <p><strong>3rd –</strong> $350,000</p> <p><strong>4th – </strong>$200,000</p> <p><strong>5th –</strong> $150,000</p> <p><strong>6th to 10th –</strong> $120,000</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caulfield Cup 2024 Odds</h2>