A guide to the $5 million Caulfield Cup

THE CAULFIELD CUP

Group One, $5 million, 2400m, handicap race for three-years and older, run at Caulfield, Melbourne, on October 19, 2019

HISTORY

* First run in 1879 when won by Newminster

* Switched from autumn to spring in 1881 when two cups were held, one for each season, while the race was again run twice in 1943 due to a large number of entries

* 11 horses have completed the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double in the same year, the most recent being Ethereal (2001)

* Five is the most number of wins by a jockey, Scobie Breasley, who won four cups in a row from 1942 to 1945.

* Seven is the most number of wins by a trainer, Bart Cummings.

* Only two horses have won the race back to back, Poseidon (1906-07) and Rising Fast (1954-55)

* Other dual winners of the Caulfield Cup have been Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Whittier (1922, 1925), Uncle Sam (1912, 1914), Hymettus (1898, 1901) and Paris (1892, 1894)

* International winners include Taufan’s Melody (1998), All The Good (2008), Dunaden (2012), Admire Rakti (2014) and Best Solution (2018)

* Three female trainers have had winners – Lady Herries with Taufan’s Melody (1998), Sheila Laxon with Ethereal (2001) and Gai Waterhouse with Descarado (2010)

* The shortest placed winner was Tulloch (1957) at $1.67

TALKING POINTS

* Imported stayer Finche is favourite to give champion trainer Chris Waller his first Caulfield Cup

* Mustajeer’s jockey Damien Oliver could equal the riding record of five wins. Oliver’s most recent of his four victories was 20 years ago on Sky Heights

* Constantinople will be the first northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old to contest the race

* Jockey Ben Melham is striving for his first Caulfield Cup on Mirage Dancer having finished third on Johannes Vermeer in 2017 and a close second on Homesman last year

* Hartnell has top weight of 58kg. Admire Rakti (2014), Dunaden (2012) and Northerly (2002) have won with that weight in the past 20 years

* Damian Lane rides Mer De Glace, a horse he won two races on in Japan this year

* Light weight contender Wolfe is on a quick back-up after clinching his spot in the race with victory in Wednesday’s Coongy Cup

WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING

“Chris (Waller) and the team have got him spot-on. And I’m just really thankful for the opportunity that they’ve given me this Saturday to hopefully win my first Caulfield Cup” – Finche’s jockey Michael Walker

“We’ve always sought to tailor his preparation to what he’s looking for and after a really good Caulfield Cup trial in the Turnbull Stakes we were enthused to bring him back to Caulfield at a track where he’s raced so beautifully in the past” – Hartnell’s trainer James Cummings

“If he runs to his work he will be hard to beat” – Mirage Dancer’s jockey Ben Melham

“He cleaned up nicely from having his trip to the races in the Turnbull Stakes and 2400 metres suits him a lot better. He’s spot on” – Vow And Declare’s trainer Danny O’Brien

“It’s good to have him out here. He obviously profiles really well … I’d say if he brings his best he’s going to be really competitive” – jockey Damian Lane on Japanese horse Mer De Glace

“I think he’s certainly up to this grade, no doubt. And it’s just a matter of how he handles Caulfield” – Mustajeer’s rainer Kris Lees

“She’s another horse who is going to be around 50/1 but I showed that I could do it on (2017 winner) Boom Time. So if I can just go in with that same approach, hopefully I can do it again” – Qafila’s jockey Cory Parish.