Caulfield Cup – What you need to know

* Group One, $3 million, 2400m handicap, to be run at Caulfield in Melbourne on October 21, 2017

HISTORY

* First run in autumn of 1879 and won by Newminster, 18 years after the first Melbourne Cup in 1861

* Two Cups were held in 1881 when it switched from autumn to spring, won by Blue Ribbon and Master Avenel

* During the 1898 Cup won by Hymettus seven horses fell in the straight soon after the start

* Might And Power set a record margin in 1997, winning the Cup by 7-1/2 lengths ahead of Doriemus

* Dead heats: Aborigine and Blue Book for first in 1909, Baghdad Note and Royal Show for third in 1970

* Arctic Scent won the first $1 million Cup in 1996

SOME OF THE BIG NAMES TO WIN IT

* Oakleigh (1887), Poseidon (1906, 1907), Amounis (1930), Rogilla (1932), The Trump (1937), Skipton (1943), Rising Fast (1954, 1955), Redcraze (1956), Tulloch (1957), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Tobin Bronze (1967), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997), Ethereal (2001), Northerly (2002), Elvstroem (2004), Viewed (2009), Dunaden (2012)

TALKING POINTS

* Horses to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double in the same year: Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997) and Ethereal (2001)

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* Rising Fast won the Caulfield Cup again in 1955 before running second to the Tommy Smith-trained Toparoa in the Melbourne Cup in his attempt at a double-double

* Dual Caulfield Cup winners: Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Rising Fast (1954-55), Whittier (1922, 1925), Uncle Sam (1912, 1914,) Poseidon (1906-07), Hymettus (1898, 1901) and Paris (1892, 1894)

* Bart Cummings won the Caulfield Cup a record seven times with Galilee (1966), Big Philou (1969), Leilani (1974), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Let’s Elope (1991) and Viewed (2009)

* Shortest-priced winner: Tulloch (4-6 in 1957)

* Longest-priced winner: Saint Warden (100-1 in 1943)

WHAT SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING

* “He’s a horse who backs up really well so he’s got a lot of things in his favour and he’s got a favourable draw now. He’s an ideal sort of horse for a Caulfield Cup” – jockey Ben Melham on Johannes Vermeer

* “Drawing barrier seven is ideal I would have thought. I’m hoping the tongue-tie can turn him around, but I’m not sure to be honest. We’ve gone with that and hopefully it works, – trainer Darren Weir on Humidor

* “It’s a bit of a sticky gate but hopefully Craig (Williams) can slot in midfield, or something like that. There’s not point going back to last with no weight” – Weir on Amelie’s Star

* “I think the Caulfield Cup can be a high-pressure race and she thrives on pressure” – Trainer Nick Olive on Single Gaze

* “I think she’s peaking just in time to put in a big one” – apprentice Beau Mertens on Abbey Marie.

* “He’s here for the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup is a good stepping stone towards that-” jockey Hugh Bowman on international visitor Marmelo.