Caulfield Cup 2017 – The Unconventional Form Guide

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.

Field 🏇: View the Caulfield Cup Field

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. Ventura Storm draws gate four while Lord Fandango 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 four of the last five 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 last year with Jameka. The 2017 Caulfield Cup field sees every horse bar Humidor, Jon Snow and Boom Time have blue.

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. Marmelo, Johannes Vermeer, Ventura Storm, Hardham, Amelie’s Star and Lord Fandango 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, eight winners of the Caulfield Cup have used the Turnbull as their final lead up. Humidor (3rd), Sir Isaac Newton (5th) and Ventura Storm (2nd) all had 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 Ventura Storm. Mention: Craig Williams has won it the second most with two wins. He rides Amelie’s Star.

Trainer Tally: David Hayes has won the Caulfield Cup more times than any other trainer with a horse in the race with two wins. He trains He’s Our Rokkii, Ventura Storm, Boom Time and Harlem along with son Ben as well as Tom Dabernig.

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: Humidor, Jon Snow, He’s Our Rokkii, Sir Isaac Newton, Ventura Storm, Bonneval, Harlem and Lord Fandango have all used a plane to get here.

What’s the odds?: Just in favour of those hard in the market. Since the turn of the century, it’s 9-7 in the battle between horses at $10 or under saluting in the race.

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. Harlemhas drawn barrier 1.

Lucky Letter: The letter ‘A’ has featured in the name of 22 Caulfield Cup winners since 1983, including the last four winners. There are 12 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 we see history in the Caulfield Cup? It seems unlikely with Katelyn Mallyon steering $61 chance Sir Isaac newton while Kathy O’Hara is riding $35 chance Single Gaze.