The Caulfield Cup is one of the biggest horse races in Australia, and one of the richest handicap events in the entire world. Second in popularity behind only the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup is always popular with punters around the country. Like many big horse race, there are a number of important tips to keep in mind when betting on the Caulfield Cup.
Pay Attention to Lead-up Races
It is always essential to do your homework with respect to lead up events, especially for big races that have well defined indicators leading up to the Caulfield Cup. The most important races to keep an eye on include the 1800 metre Underwood Stakes in September, the 2000 metre Turnbull Stakes in October, and the 2000 metre Yalumba Stakes on Caulfield Guineas Day.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas held earlier in the carnival are also among the important lead up races, all of which serve as a good form guide for the Caulfield Cup. When placing a bet on the big race, it is vital to pay attention to these events and any other lead up races where favourites have performed well.
Short Odds vs Long Odds
Finding the ideal middle ground between the favourites and outsiders can be profitable. However, every race has its own challenges when it comes to betting, and the Caulfield Cup is certainly no different. While short odds offer a much higher probability of success, the relative payout is also reduced in comparison to outsiders. On the other hand, betting on outsiders requires either foresight or luck to pay out at all.
Weighing up the challenge between shorts odds and long odds is central to any successful bet. Six out of the past seven Caulfield Cups have been won by horses at $10 or better. D
Look at the Weights
Weights do play a crucial role in the Caulfield Cup, with only three winning horses in the past 20 years carrying 56kg or more. These three horses were Viewed in 2009 at 57kg, Northerly in 2002 at 58kg, and Sky Heights in 1999 at 56.5kgs. The other seventeen horses all carried 54.5kg or less. As the Caulfield Cup gets closer, bookmakers generally publish a detailed account of the field and track, along with the weights, barriers, and odds of each horse.
