Caulfield Cup Betting

Caulfield Cup Betting: The highlight of the Caulfield Spring Carnival, the Caulfield Cup is one of Australia's richest throughbred horse races.

Traditionally, the best way to enjoy the big race is to indulge in Caulfield Cup betting. And those seeking pointers to the winner should not ignore the favourite.

Last year's win for Master O'Reilly was the fifth time in seven years that the favourite has won the race, the five-year-old gelding coming home with Caulfield Cup odds of 8-1.

Four years in a row from 2001-2005, those backing the favourite in Caulfield Cup betting were left smiling when Ethereal, Northerly, Mummify and Elvstroem came home first.

The race is not exclusively the domain of favourites, however. Tawqeet upset the formbook in 2006 when David Hayes' five-year-old won at Caulfield Cup odds of 16-1.

Greg Childs has two race wins during that time, Northerly defying weight of 58 kg in 2002 then three years later Railings triumphing at Caulfield Cup odds of 15-2.

Racegoers got to see one of the top Australasian horses of the 21st century when Ethereal won the big race in 2001. That year, besides rewarding those who had backed him with Caulfield Cup bets, the New Zealand mare won the Doomben Roses, Queensland Oaks and finally the Melbourne Cup.

Ethereal, who won more than $4.7 million in prize money before being retired the following year, is one of five horses since 1980 to have done the "cups double" by winning both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Other horses to have won both in the same year are Mighty Power (1997), Doriemus (1995), Let's Elope (1991) and Gurner's Lane (1982).

It is indeed one of Australia's richest races and is actually the richest 2,400 metre race in the world today. The race is open to horses 3 years or older.

The Caulfield Cup is often dubbed as the First Leg of Australian Racings biggest double along side the Melbourne Cup, and horses that have won the Caulfield Cup have backed it up by winning the Melbourne Cup weeks later. Ethereal and Might & Power are two of the more recent 'Double' winners.