It’s springtime again, when a young person’s fancy turns to … horse racing.

And Melbourne’s magnificent spring carnival swings into gear in earnest on Saturday with another gripping edition of the time-honoured and wonderful Caulfield Cup.

As we like to say here, it’s not the Melbourne Cup, but it’ll do till we get one.

The history-steeped, Group 1, 2400m handicap test – first run in 1879 – holds a special place in Australian turf folklore. It’s a vital lead-up to the Melbourne Cup, but is always a captivating race in its own right, the toughest mile-and-a-half in sport, and an event graced by some of the greatest names in Australian racing history.

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And this year the $5 million battle looks every bit as engrossing as ever.

One of the strongest trends in racing in the past 10 years is that if you want a good stayer in Australia, you have to leave it. Australia’s breeds the world’s best sprinters, and Europe does the stayers.

Consequently, the Caulfield Cup field is littered with horses who started out in Britain, France and Ireland, where the prizemoney is way behind ours, and were bought by Australian stables, usually the big ones. It’ll look the same in the Melbourne Cup.

But there’s still a couple of local stayers – and by local we mean mostly New Zealand – ready to defy their challenge.

In a glimpse of modern racing’s internationality, the market is headed by British-bred Buckaroo, trained by former Kiwi Chris Waller, and ridden by Brazilian born-and-raised Joao Moreira.

The six-year-old gelding is in his prime, warmed up with recent back-to-back wins, and is favourite at around $4.20. The masterful Waller waited a long time to win his first Caulfield Cup but has now shooting for his third in five runnings. He also has another key chance in Land Legend, at $8.50.

Racing’s slightly dotty but very astute favourite glam-mother Gai Waterhouse is first in line to stop Waller with $6 chance Eliyass, formerly of France, while strong staying mare Zardozi – representing the huge Godolphin global racing empire of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed – is at $7.

The race is a little light on for battler stories, though there is one lone genuine foreign raider in Japan’s Warp Speed, who’s ironically named since he likes to bowl along fairly sedately all day and will be better suited by the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup, his main mission out here.

Aside from racing tipsters, weather forecasters are the only people who can constantly be wrong and still keep their job, but they’ve promised us things will be mostly fine leading up to raceday. There’s a chance of rain on Friday, but it’s not expected to affect the track much, but this is Melbourne so keep an eye out.

With a packed 10-race card, it’s one of the great days on the Australian turf, with three Group 2s and three Group 3s on the undercard. So here’s your ultimate guide to Caulfield Cup day.

WHAT IS IT?

The Caulfield Cup, a handicap for three-year-olds and upwards over 2400m, or a mile-and-a-half. Times and training methods have changed, but it’s still the most important lead up for Australia’s greatest race, the 3200m Melbourne Cup, 17 days later.

It’s a Group 1, which is the highest category of race, above G2, G3 and Listed, which is the racing world’s way of recognising the best horses internationally.

Though 800m shorter than the Big Cup, Caulfield’s annual highlight is a gruelling affair requiring stamina, toughness, and a finishing dash. There’s a short-ish, frenetic 300m run from the start at the top of the straight to the first of Caulfield’s three corners, so horses with wide starting gates will want to get across to save ground. (Despite this perceived wisdom, 12 of the past 36 winners started from barrier 10 or wider).

After passing the winning post the first time, the field turns left heading up the back of the course, where they’re tested by an uphill run, before turning down the Railway Side when the runs start coming, before the real heat’s poured on rounding the home turn.

A capacity field of 18 has been announced, plus three emergencies in case anyone pulls out.

WHAT’S IT WORTH?

$5 million. The winner takes home $3 million, and even eighth place earns $100k.

WHEN’S IT ON?

Race 9 of 10 on the Caulfield card on Saturday, at 5:15pm AEDT.

WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT?

At the course, on Channel 7, Racing.com, or Sky Racing. http://Foxsports.com.au will have live news and updates, including video soon after the race.

MAIN PLOTLINES

Buckaroo is an impressive looking type, from Europe originally and acquired by big money owners and trainer Chris Waller to race here. He looked a bit plain in his first two Australian campaigns, but like a backpacker holding a Foster’s, the Europeans take a while to settle in here.

This campaign he’s really hit his straps, with recent back-to-back wins at G2 and then G1 level, before a narrow second in the G1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m, when beaten by a good’un in Via Sistina.

Buckaroo is a reasonably short-priced favourite for this, but a major question remains: he hasn’t won past 1800m. The extra 600m is significant, and his only attempt at 2400m yielded a fifth of eight.

Similar can be said of second-favourite Eliyass. He’s a class animal, rated by Waterhouse as her best stayer since 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, and has won nine of 12, first in France and then three out of four here. But he’s never been past 2000m, and there’s no tougher place to find out if you can get 2400m than this race.

Godolphin mare Zardozi is proven at the trip, having won the G1 VRC Oaks over 2500m last spring. She’s back in form after a narrow second in Randwick’s The Metropolitan (2400m) last start, and gets in with the flyweight of 51kg.

Mind you, unlike the old days when the top weighted horses would have to carry 60kg or thereabouts, this year the toppie only has 55kg. So, under the handicap conditions designed to make things even, those considered to have weaker form or experience aren’t carrying weights all that far below those with the strongest records, which matters.

Zardozi’s also very much an Aussie to her bootstraps! Well, that is to say Godolphin bought her mum in Britain, got her a room with a British stallion, then flew her to Australia where she gave birth to Zardozi. That’ll do.

Father-son training team Anthony and Sam Freedman won the Cups double last year with Without A Fight, and they’ll saddle $9 chance Deny Knowledge. The Irish-bred mare, owned by the newest massive player on the Australian – indeed the world – scene in Chinese businessman Zhang Yuesheng, looked strong winning a G1 over 2000m last week at this track, and is proven at the trip.

We’re looking for a redemption story with $15 shot Warmonger, who won the Queensland Derby (2400m) by a ridiculous 10 lengths in June, but looked poor when 11th in the Turnbull last start.

And, introducing, from the wilds of deepest darkest England, having his first run in Australia for master trainer and canny importer Ciaron Maher, ladies and gentlemen.

That’s it. That’s the horse’s name. Sayedaty Sadaty – it means “ladies and gentlemen” in Arabic, and it’s also a four-year-old stallion who had nine starts in England for a win and five placings.

As always, the Caulfield Cup will be watched closely for key pointers to the Melbourne Cup – not just among the first few home but from those behind them perhaps surging to the line, or sneaking along more quietly. So cast your eyes over the first half of the field as they run inside the last 200m, and write some things down in your Melbourne Cup black book.

FIRST WINNER

Newminster, in 1879

LAST WINNER

Without A Fight, one of these tough European imports, who flew home to score at $8.50 under 55.5kg, and went on to complete the Cups double by winning the big one at Flemington.

FAMOUS WINNERS

Eurythmic (1920), Amounis (1930), Rising Fast (1954, 1955), Tulloch (1957), Galilee (1966), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Let’s Elope (1991), Might And Power (1997), Northerly (2002), Verry Elleegant (2020), Without A Fight (2023).

CAULFIELD-MELBOURNE CUPS DOUBLE WINNERS

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), Ethereal (2001), Without A Fight (2023).

BEST BARRIERS: In the past 32 years, seven is the pick, with five winners. But if you play the laws of averages, maybe not, since it hatched last year’s winner Without A Fight. Gates three and nine have four each.

WORST BARRIER: Perverse as it sounds, it’s No.1, which hasn’t had a win since the Allies were doing the same in Germany.

FAVOURITES: Six of nine favourites won between 1999 and 2007, but then only four of 16 since. Favourites won in 2021 and 2022 though, although Boom Time did get up at $50 in 2017.

MAJOR RACES ON THE UNDERCARD

Caulfield Classic – 3yos, G3, 2000m, Race 3 at 1.25pm, featuring VRC Derby hopefuls.

Ethereal Stakes – 3yo fillies, G3, 2000m, race 4 at 2:00pm, featuring several VRC Oaks hopefuls.

Thousand Guineas Prelude – 3yo fillies, G2, 1400m, race 6 at 3.10pm, featuring fillies heading towards the G1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) later in the spring.

Millennium Sprint – G2, 1000m, race 7 at 3.15pm, a short sprint for all comers.

Tristarc Stakes – G2, 1400m, race 8 at 4.30pm, a sprint for mares, named after a former good one, the Caulfield Cup winner of 1985.

Moonga Stakes – G3, 1400m, race 10 at 5.50pm, a longer sprint for all comers.

THE CAULFIELD CUP FIELD

Race 9, 5.15pm, 2400m

1. KALAPOUR (Starting Barrier 4) Handicap 55kg, Approx odds win/place $101/$26. FOR: Is 100-1 but it’s not ridiculous to see him here and that might be over the odds. Has topweight, but it’s only 55kg, which isn’t much for a tough eight-year-old gelding. There used to be a rule that topweight had to have at least 58kg, but like everything else, it’s all gone soft. Good inside barrier and a capable jock in Ben Melham, and the rise to 2400m will suit him. Last win was over this trip in the G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. AGAINST: Latest form unflattering, as his odds would suggest. He ran eighth two starts back and sixth out of eight last start, both over 2000m. Still, he’s on his way to the Melbourne Cup and while he’ll be better suited there, he should be working home late over this journey. Top six maybe, possibly even a rough place hope.

2. BUCKAROO (8) 54.5kg, $4.20/$1.80. FOR: Classy ex-European stayer who after a couple of middling Australian campaigns looks to have settled right in. Good barrier, master trainer in Chris Waller, and top big race jockey in Joao Moreira. Has the highest rating in the race (a number to rank horses worldwide) of 117, and has been in great form. Won two on end over 1600m and 1800m, the latter his only look at the tricky-for-some Caulfield. Then ran a close second in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) behind very good mare Via Sistina last start, carrying more weight (58kg) than her under weight-for-age conditions. Well suited dropping in weight under the handicap scale here. AGAINST: One thing stands out – he hasn’t won beyond 1800m. What’s more, his one go at 2400m resulted in a fifth of eight. Finished strongly last start but the extra 400m here is still a doubt. Still, has class on his side. One of the main chances.

3. CIRCLE OF FIRE (13) 54.5kg, $41/$11. FOR: Top class stayer for great trainer Ciaron Maher. Came to Australia in the autumn and reeled off two awesome wins in good company in Sydney over 2600m and in the 3200m Sydney Cup. He’ll probably prefer that trip once he gets to Flemington, but expect big improvement on his last-start ninth in the Turnbull. AGAINST: His grand final is the Melbourne Cup and he’ll probably be warming up at the end of this, and hasn’t shown enough in his two runs this prep to think he’ll figure in the finish here. Also has a tricky wide barrier. Rough place only.

4. WARP SPEED (19) 54.5kg, $23/$6.50. FOR: Six-year-old stallion from Japan, and they’re usually pretty tough animals, because it’s hard racing there where they like to get up front and stay there, and then only the best go to stud to breed more of them. Consistent record finishing between first and fourth in 19 of his 22 starts. No doubts about him lasting the journey, as his last win was over 3000m. AGAINST: Still the distance. He looks an out-and-out Melbourne Cup type, with his last five runs in Japan over 3000-3600m. Also has a terrible barrier so will struggle to find an optimum spot in running. Still, you can bet he’s tough. Rough place best.

5. HUETOR (7) 54kg, $51/$13.50. FOR: French-bred eight-year-old who’s been here for a while now and won two Doomben Cups (G1, 2000m). Good jockey in Luke Curry, top trainer in Peter Snowden, and that great barrier seven from which to get close to the fence. AGAINST: Tends to go back in his races, so might have to weave through traffic to be a show in the straight. Has won at 2400m, but that was in France years ago, and he hasn’t tried the trip out here. And while he’s won two Doomben Cups, he’s still been a length or two short of the top tier of horses in this country. Last start looked poor when 12th in the Turnbull. Needs to improve.

6. WARMONGER (16) 53.5kg, $15/$4.50. FOR: Interesting runner this Kiwi-bred 4yo gelding. Was poking along fairly quietly before a fast-finishing second in the SA Derby (2500m) in May, then went a bit like Phar Lap in winning the Queensland version by 10 bloody lengths. From a leading stable in Price-Kent, and has Mickey Dee on board, who won this race two years ago. Second-top rated horses in the race (115). AGAINST: Terrible gate, but does go back in his races so might find a decent enough run in transit. And while he looked OK first-up when fourth over 1600m, looked ordinary last start when 11th in the Turnbull. Will need to lift on that run, especially given the gate, but that was the often tricky second run back from a spell, where a horse can be a bit flat. He’ll love the extra 400m here and if he reproduces that Queensland run, look out. Each way.

7. ELIYASS (21) 53kg, $6/$2.25. FOR: Will be a case of “Eliyass Queen” for his girl boss trainer Gai Waterhouse if he gets up. She and co-trainer Adrian Bott will have this French-bred 6yo peaking for this, since his form suggests he’ll be better suited here than the Melbourne Cup. Won his first Australian start, never easy to do, and has since won two of three more, so is a classy type. Came third in the Turnbull last start. Good front-running jockey in Tim Clark. AGAINST: Terrible barrier. Is still likely to go forward, possibly lead, in the Waterhouse-Bott style, so will burn petrol early. Plus he led in the Turnbull and was collared late, and he’s got 400m further to go here. If the pace is slack it will help, but that’s unlikely in an 18-horse Caulfield Cup. Does have the lightest weight he’s carried in a while though. Each way.

8. LAND LEGEND (1) 53kg, $8.50/$2.85. FOR: Tough French-bred stayer whose dad was the great sire Galileo. Followed a sixth over 2000m by stepping up to the 2400m and winning The Metropolitan (G1, 2400m) at Randwick last start, if only by a whisker and surviving a protest from second horse Zardozi. Also won the 2600m St Leger at Randwick in his first Australian run, so the distance here is right in his wheelhouse. Top trainer in Waller and Hong Kong’s dominant jockey Zac Purton has come home to Australia to ride him. Will get a great position from gate one. AGAINST: Gate one. Bizarre as it is, it hasn’t sprung a winner of this race since WWII. Trouble is in a big Caulfield Cup field, if you drop back from gate one you’ll have a lot of traffic to get through in a relatively short home straight. Still, he did lead throughout in the St Leger, and Purton knows what he’s doing. As Lord of the Rings might say, he could break the curse of the one gate.

9. YOUNG WERTHER (10) 52.5kg, $19/$5.50. FOR: This was an annoying horse, who showed early promise, then hung around like a wallet vacuum for many runs whilst failing to live up to it, but has now started winning again, paying some forgiving punters back. Two runs back won impressively over 2000m here. That was in weaker class but then ran solidly when fifth in the Turnbull. Good jockey in Jye McNeil aboard, good middle gate, and decent stable in Danny O’Brien. AGAINST: While he’s learned how to win there’s a bit of a distance doubt about him, since he hasn’t won past 2040m. Did run second in a Brisbane G3 over 2400m in June, but that wasn’t top class. And he’s becoming Old Werther now, aged seven. Place best.

10. DUKE DE SESSA (6) 52kg, $21/$6.00. FOR: Has a top trainer in Ciaron Maher, a good barrier, and is a pretty consistent type. Will get the trip as he’s won to 2014m and placed at 3000m. Has run second, fourth and fourth in past three starts, the latest in the Turnbull. AGAINST: Ran out of puff in the Turnbull, and that was his sixth run this prep, so it’s not like that will boost his fitness greatly. Hasn’t won in 12 Australian starts since coming from Ireland, so is close enough to receiving the dreaded “non-winner” tag. Prefer others.

11. KNIGHT’S CHOICE (14) 51.5kg, $201/$51. FOR: Hmmm … light weight maybe, dropping from 55kg last start, and 59kg in the two before that. AGAINST: This horse is a parable. Up till July last year, he was a sensation. He won three on end impressively in Queensland, and as always happens, the big offers came from Hong Kong buyers, reaching $2.7 million! “Sell! Sell! Always sell!” wise old heads cried. “Nah”, said the owners, who’d waited a lifetime to get a good’un. He’s won one of 13 since, and was last seen running 16th of 16 in the Turnbull, hence the bookies will let you write your own ticket on this one. So, if something like this should happen to you, always sell. Here endeth the lesson.

12. MURAMASA (5) 51kg, $26/$7.50. FOR: Talented staying type who won three on end after being gelded last spring. Is a very well-bred Australian horse, with his dad being the great Japanese sire Deep Impact, who’s fathered G1 winners all over the world. Gets in with a light weight, by law referred to as a “postage stamp”, of 51kg, after humping 58.5 and 60 in his past two runs – a second over 1500m and a third over 1800m. Good inside gate, and strong experienced rider in Daniel Moor, who should find a good spot up forward at a track that favours leaders. AGAINST: As the handicap scale suggests, those last two runs with big weights were against much easier opposition. Plus he’s rising from 1800m to 2400m. Good place chance at decent odds though.

13. ZARDOZI (12) 51kg, $7/$2.50. FOR: This is a quality animal in the right demographic as a four-year-old staying mare, which has helped her get in with just 51kg. Distance no trouble, as she won the VRC Oaks (G1, 2500m) last spring, and was just pipped last start in The Metropolitan (G1, 2400m) at Randwick, protesting unsuccessfully against the winner, Land Legend. She meets him 3kg better at the weights this time. She’s a supremely-bred type in the care of canny trainer James Cummings of the uber-successful Godolphin empire, with a gun international jockey aboard in the Hong Kong-based Andrea Atzeni. He popped down to the win the Sydney Cup last autumn on Circle Of Fire, so can be relied upon in a big race. AGAINST: Barrier 12 could be better, but the way the race is mapping out, looking at the runners inside her, she should be able to find a decent position not too far from the fence. Is battling a bit of gender history, with only three mares winning this race since 2002. Great chance.

14. COCO SUN (20) 50.5kg, $26/$7.50. FOR: Another from the 4yo mare shelf who showed her great promise in the autumn by beating the boys in the SA Derby (G1, 2500m). In canny father-son stable of Tony and Calvin McEvoy, who’ve thought outside the box in getting top Hong Kong jockey Karis Teetan to ride. Has come along fairly with runs of seventh, sixth and fifth, the latest in the Caulfield Stakes (G1, 2000m). AGAINST: Could have shown a bit more in that last run perhaps, but it was against top company. Shocking barrier, meaning Teetan will need to be a magician. He’ll probably have to take her pretty far back from there, but she should be coming home well at the end. Decent place chance.

15. DENY KNOWLEDGE (17) 50.5kg, $9/$3. FOR: A 7yo mare who came fro mEngland three years ago. Has had a recent change of stable to last year’s winning trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman and is thriving, winning two of her four starts with them. Latest was a strong 0.75 length win in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes at the top level, beating the outstanding Mr Brightside into second. Two starts earlier won the Grafton Cup (2350m), which is an OK race, and proves she’ll get this trip. AGAINST: Bad barrier, meaning she’ll need a lot of luck, particularly since she likes to race forward, though light weight at least compensates for that. Jockey Craig Newitt was a gun several years ago, but hasn’t been in the G1 reckoning for a long time now. Each Way.

16. VALIANT KING (18) 50.5kg, $51/$13.50. FOR: Trained by Chris Waller and has a postage stamp on his back. Is a grey horse, if you like those. AGAINST: It’s rare to see Waller with a horse at these long odds in a big race, and he’s there for a reason, having run 16th and 10th in his past two. No thanks.

17. POSITIVITY (9) 50kg, $31/$8.50. FOR: Talented 4yo mare who kicked off in NZ, where they know how to breed a stayer. With a canny trainer in Andrew Forsman, and has a strong record with two wins from her past four starts, including a Caulfield G3 over 2000m two runs back. Last start seventh in a 2520m G3 at Flemington but wasn’t too far off them. Decent gate. AGAINST: Slightly odd preparation in that she’s dropping back in distance for a Caulfield Cup. Not by too much, but the way she ground to the line last start made her look more like a Melbourne Cup horse. Has a nice light weight but that often means finding any jockey you can. Winona Costin is capable but hasn’t won a G1 or a G2. Place best.

18. SAYEDATY SADATY (2) 50kg, $12/$3.75. FOR: British import fresh off the boat for Ciaron Maher, who knows how to pick a stayer from there to buy. He’s a 4yo stallion who’s only had nine runs so he gets in with a tiny weight, but has a reliable lightweight jockey in Ben Thompson, who’s won a G1 and has a great barrier. British form decent, including a fifth in the Derby (2400m) two runs back. You can trust Maher’s eye with these horses. AGAINST: Always a lot of the unknown quantity about these imports until you see them race in Australian conditions. The mail from Britain says he might lead. Tough to lead all the way in a Caulfield Cup, but his light weight and barrier offset that. Each way.

EMERGENCIES

19. FANCY MAN (3) 50kg, $101/$26. FOR: Another Irish-bred with a light weight, proven at the distance having won over 2400m in Brisbane four runs back. Ran on OK last start third in Caulfield 2400m G2. Has second-best barrier in Caulfield Cup modern history. AGAINST: Major class rise in this. Top five run would surprise.

20. BERKSHIRE BREEZE (15), 50kg, $81/21. FOR: Another Maher import who looked a likely spring star when winning three in a row in weaker class in the winter over these sorts of trips, but hasn’t gone on with it as well as envisaged. Last start fourth in Flemington 2520m G3. AGAINST: Rough barrier, and will find rivals here a bit strong. Looking elsewhere.

21. FRANCESCO GUARDI (11), 52kg, $81/$21. FOR: Another in the Waller stable. Well bred, being by Frankel, and won the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) two years back so the distance isn’t a doubt. Wasn’t too far off them when seventh last start in the Turnbull. AGAINST: Hasn’t looked like his old self this spring and is now a 7yo who may have trained off. Rough place only.

TIPS: 1. ZARDOZI; 2. Warmonger; 3. Buckaroo; 4. Muramasa.