Many use the Caulfield Cup as a stepping stone to gain entry and qualification for the Melbourne Cup in November. Howewer, that’s not to say this event is one of the less meaningful handicaps hosted by Caulfield Racecourse. In fact, several Caulfield Cup winners have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup weeks later in what is otherwise known as winning the ‘cup double’.

The race is open to horses aged three years and older and is run over a distance of 2,400 or a mile-and-a-half where runners and riders will swing left-handed before throwing down the gauntlet for the $2.5 prize.

Caulfield Cup odds

Held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club it is one of the premier events on the Australian Racing calendar and will conclude the mini Caulfield Cup carnival meeting. This year will be the 132nd running of this prestigious event and will feature the best gallopers from Australia and the rest of the world with a limit of 18 runners in place for the dash.

Caulfield Cup tips

There will be excellent betting opportunities on the race with the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double a very popular market amongst race-goers and punters. In order to make an informed choice about a selection for the race on October 15 it might be worth noting that eight of the last 12 winners have all been aged four. Also, trainer Bart Cummings holds the record for training the most winners of the Caulfield Cup with seven so it may be worth taking a closer look at his runners for the race.

Only two horses from outside Australia have won this contest since 1998, Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor’s runner All the Good was the last to take the prize money away from Australia three years ago. Last year’s winner Descarado looks sure to line-up again and this year could also see Her Majesty represented with Tactician after trainer Michael Bell entered the four-year-old prior to his good second in the Ebor handicap at York. He is just one of 22 international entries for the race and those nominations will be narrowed throughout a number of declaration stages before the final list of 18 is released in early October.

Caulfield Cup free bet

With the Caulfield Cup being such a major race, online bookmakers have numerous free bets available. Check out the best Caulfield Cup free bet offers below: