The $5 million Caulfield Cup has its clear headline acts, with Group 1 performers Buckaroo and Light Infantry Man both handed the topweight of 59kg.
Last year’s runner-up Buckaroo returns with unfinished business after strong form at weight-for-age, while Ciaron Maher’s Light Infantry Man brings Australian Cup-winning credentials. Vauban and Sydney Cup hero Arapaho sit just below them on 58.5kg, while Brisbane’s Q22 winner Kovalica (57kg) and Mornington Cup winner Bankers Choice (54kg) are guaranteed starts.
Waller’s four-year-old mare Aeliana, allotted 55kg, remains a key talking point with connections undecided on her spring path. Stablemate Land Legend rises to 55.5kg after last year’s third placing, while Zardozi (54.5kg) is another who must lift under higher imposts.
International interest is again strong, with French-trained Presage Nocturne given 57.5kg, British galloper Meydaan 56kg, and Japanese mare Golden Snap 53.5kg.
Second acceptances close 23 September, with golden tickets on offer this Saturday through the Underwood and Naturalism Stakes.
Market 💰: View the current Caulfield Cup odds
| Order | Horse (name & origin) | Trainer | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exempt: 2 | |||
| 1= | KOVALICA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 57kg |
| 1- | BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) | B, W & JD Hayes | 54kg |
| Passed 1st Elimination Clause: 59 | |||
| 3 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | 59kg |
| 4 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | 59kg |
| 5 | MOIRA (CAN) | Chris Waller | 57kg |
| 6 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | 58.5kg |
| 7 | VAUBAN (FR) | Waterhouse, Bott | 58.5kg |
| 8 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 55kg |
| 9 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | 57.5kg |
| 10 | PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) | Alessandro Botti | 57.5kg |
| 11 | SIR DELIUS (GB) | Waterhouse, Bott | 57.5kg |
| 12 | ANISETTE (GB) | Chris Waller | 56kg |
| 13 | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | Symons & Laxon | 57kg |
| 14 | FULL COUNT FELICIA (USA) | Chris Waller | 55.5kg |
| 15 | ALALCANCE (GB) | Waterhouse, Bott | 55kg |
| 16 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 56.5kg |
| 17 | MEYDAAN (IRE) | Simon Crisford | 56kg |
| 18 | ZARDOZI | Ciaron Maher | 54.5kg |
| 19 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 55.5kg |
| 20 | ABSURDE (FR) | Willie Mullins | 55.5kg |
| 21 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | 55.5kg |
| 22 | WILLYDOIT (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 53.5kg |
| 23 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | 55kg |
| 24 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 55kg |
| 25 | GOLDEN SNAP (JPN) | Katsunori Tanaka | 53.5kg |
| 26 | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller | 53.5kg |
| 27 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | Price & Kent (Jnr) | 54.5kg |
| 28 | LEICA LUCY (NZ) | Chris Waller | 51.5kg |
| 29 | FEMMINILE | Chris Waller | 51.5kg |
| 30 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 54kg |
| 31 | DEAKIN (FR) | Phillip Stokes | 54kg |
| 32 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | O’Shea & Charlton | 53.5kg |
| 33 | REVELARE | Robert Hickmott | 53.5kg |
| 34 | POINT KING (IRE) | A&S Freedman | 53.5kg |
| 35 | PALMETTO (NZ) | John Sargent | 53kg |
| 36 | BIRDMAN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 52.5kg |
| 37 | ETNA ROSSO (IRE) | Chris Waller | 51.5kg |
| 38 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.5kg |
| 39 | BERKSHIRE BREEZE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.5kg |
| 40 | OUR ANCHORAGE (IRE) | Bjorn Baker | 51.5kg |
| 41 | SAYEDATY SADATY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.5kg |
| 42 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker | 51.5kg |
| 43 | THEDOCTOROFLOVE | Busuttin & Young | 51kg |
| 44 | GRAND PIERRO | Jason Warren | 51kg |
| 45 | OUR GOLD HOPE | Robert & Luke Price | 51kg |
| 46 | STATUARIO | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 51kg |
| 47 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 51kg |
| 48 | MORMONA (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 51kg |
| 49 | PLYMOUTH | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 51kg |
| 50 | GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| 51 | SWELTERING | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| 52 | LITZDEEL | Danny O’Brien | 51kg |
| 53 | NEWLOOK (FR) | Busuttin & Young | 51kg |
| 54 | GOD’S WINDOW (GB) | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| 55 | STAR VEGA (IRE) | A & S Freedman | 51kg |
| 56 | FLYING BANDIT | Kerry Parker | 51kg |
| 57 | DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) | A & R Archibald | 51kg |
| 58 | KADAVAR (NZ) | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| 59 | TRAV (NZ) | Raymond Connors | 51kg |
| 60 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| 61 | GO DADDY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| Not Passed 1st Elimination Clause: 24 | |||
| 62 | DESERT LIGHTNING (NZ) | Moody & Coleman | 56kg |
| 63= | ALENQUER (FR) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 55kg |
| 63- | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | 55kg |
| 63= | MORE FELONS (IRE) | Chris Waller | 55kg |
| 66 | ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) | Kris Lees | 54kg |
| 67= | ASTERIX (NZ) | Chris Waller | 52.5kg |
| 67= | MARK TWAIN (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wel | 52.5kg |
| 67= | POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) | Anthony & Sam F | 52.5kg |
| 70 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | Kris Lees | 52kg |
| 71= | NAVAL COLLEGE (GB) | A&R Archibald | 51.5kg |
| 71= | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | 51.5kg |
| 71= | LASTOTCHKA (FR) | Price & Kent (Jnr) | 51kg |
| 74 | FIRST IMMORTAL | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 51kg |
| 75 | BRAYDEN STAR (GB) | Busuttin & Young | 51kg |
| 76= | BUR DUBAI (GB) | Price & Kent (Jnr) | 51kg |
| 76= | FERNAO (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 51kg |
| 76= | GILDED WATER (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| 76- | JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| 76= | JUJA KIBO (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| 76= | KINGS VALLEY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| 76- | QUIETNESS (GB) | O’Shea & Charlton | 51kg |
| 76= | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51kg |
| 76= | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | Glen Thompson | 51kg |
| 76= | WOOTTON VERNI (FR) | Chris Waller | 51kg |
| TOTAL: 85 | |||
