Saturday sees the running of the 2016 Caulfield Cup which is one of the three major Spring races in which the three times a year punter will have a flutter on the horses, so if you meet that description then we have done the work for you. If not, then we still list some rather useless information to help you select a horse.
View our Unconventional Form Guide for the Caulfield Cup:
Barrier: The most successful barrier in the race is barriers 4 and 9 with six wins each. Barrier four was successful in 2007 with Master O’Reilly while the last horse to win from barrier nine was Railings in 2005. Tarzino draws gate four while Sir Isaac Newton has drawn nine.
Is it a boy or a girl?: It’s a Boy! Boys have dominated the Caulfield Cup winning 26 editions of the race since 1983, including the last four winners.
Favourite colour?: Since the turn of the century, the most successful colour when it comes to silks is blue, with seven wins, the latest coming in 2014 with Admire Rakti. The horses in blue silks are Scottish, Almoonqith, Articus, Tally, Jameka.
Form Turnaround?: Of the last 21 editions, 19 winners have either won or placed at their previous outing, which tells you that you need to be in really good form leading up to the Caulfield Cup. Scottish, Sir John Hawkwood, Tally, Jameka, Real Love, Big Memory, Pemberley fit this theory.
Back To Front: Back-up! Back markers have a better record in the Caulfield Cup than those who run on the speed. So look for a horse who will be settling back in the field.
Lead Up: The Turnbull Stakes is the best lead up run to this race. Since 2000, seven winners of the Caulfield Cup have used the Turnbull as their final lead up. Preferment (4th), Our Ivanhowe (8th), Tarzino (6th), Tally (3rd), Jameka (2nd), Set Square (10th), De Little Engine (7th) all head their final lead up runs in the Turnbull Stakes.
Musical Saddles: Damien Oliver has won the Caulfield Cup more than any other jockey with four wins in the race although none since 1999. He rides Exospheric. Mention: Craig Williams has won it the second most with two wins. He rides Real Love.
Trainer Tally: Lee Freedman has won the Caulfield Cup more times than any other trainer with a horse in the race with four. He trains Our Ivanhowe and Exospheric with his brother.
Australian made?: Unfortunately not. More international runners have taken out the race since the turn of the century. Luckily there are plenty to choose from: Preferment, Our Ivanhowe, Exospheric, Scottish, Sir Isaac Newton, Tarzino, Almoonqith, Sir John Hawkwood, Articus, Big Memory, Sacred Master, Fanatic, Pemberley, Vengeur Masque have all used a plane to get here.
What’s the odds?: Even money. In the past 14 years there are no splitting runners under $10 and over $10 meaning you shouldn’t look at the horses odds.
Inside Info: Barrier one is often a decent gate for a horse race. Not so much in the Caulfield Cup, only one winner has won from the inside barrier that being in 1941. Go Dreaming has drawn barrier 1.
Lucky Letter: The letter ‘A’ has featured in the name of 21 Caulfield Cup winners since 1983, including the last four winners. There are 14 horses with A’s in their name.
Phat Bet: Based on 53kg as the median weight, more runners carrying over 53kg have won the Caulfield Cup than those who carried less than 53kg. So you’ll look good placing your bet despite what weight it has.
Is The Grass Greener?: No. Horses have a tendency to win the Caulfield Cup on all aspects of the track so don’t worry if your horse likes to stick to the rail or finish out wide.
Female Flutter: Who could forget Michelle Payne becoming the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup? Could there be two cups in a row won be female jockeys? It seems unlikely with Katelyn Mallyon being the only female jockey in the race. She rides Go Dreaming.
*please note most facts and figures we have used have come from the turn of the century 2000-2015
