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The glorious spring carnival hits fever pitch this Saturday. While Sydney has its Everest, it’s also the start of Melbourne’s “Big Three”.

It’s the 148th Caulfield Cup, that time-honoured and most important of lead-ups to the very big one, the Melbourne Cup, on the first Tuesday of November (with the middle pin of the huge trio being the Cox Plate in between).

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First run in 1879, Caulfield’s is the country’s second-biggest Cup, a great handicap over the classic distance of 2400m, or a mile-and-a-half in old-speak.

Though training methods and rules of thumb have changed a lot in the past couple of decades, it’s still the most important lead-up race to Australia’s greatest race, at Flemington 17 days later.

But the Caulfield Cup has its own lore and has itself hatched many a classic chapter of turf history.

EVEREST FORM GUIDE: Every runner rated for $20m showdown

This year’s shapes as another cracking edition, with a heavy international flavour.

Europe generally produces better stayers than speed-oriented Australia, and 12 of the 18 horses in the field come from there, along with another northern hemisphere raider from Japan.

But, against this tide, there are two – count ‘em, TWO – stayers who were born and bred right here, who are rated as decent chances of pulling off a local victory – including the very short-priced favourite!

He’s Half Yours, a lightly-raced five-year-old from the Ballarat stable of father-son team Tony and Calvin McEvoy, has been ruling favourite for a few months.

He really burst onto the scene at the Sunshine Coast – coincidentally where the mighty Winx had her greatness first unveiled 10 years earlier – by taking the Caloundra Cup, over the Caulfield’s Cup’s distance of 2400m, by more than four lengths in July.

He’s had two starts since for another easy win, at Caulfield, and an impressive fourth, and is a raging $2.80 favourite for the Cup. You don’t see odds that short in this race that often.

And there’s also Revelare, another one bred in Victoria, who’s won eight times from just 12 starts. He was dominant two runs back in winning the Archer Stakes (2500m) to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. While that’s his main target, he’s a chance in this race as well.

With longshot Zardozi as a third locally-bred entrant, Half Yours and Revelare will lead the charge against a tide of foreign horses either visiting for the spring or who’ve been imported to Australia.

At $9, they’re headed by Meydaan, an English-trained gelding who’s put in some strong efforts in staying races there, including a second and a third in his past two runs – form that usually transfers well to staying races here.

There’s also repeat visitor Absurde at $31, who’s run seventh and fifth in the past two Melbourne Cups, French-based stayer Presage Nocturne at $26, and Japan’s Golden Snap, at $21.

The “local” brigade also contains several stayers who kicked off in Europe but have been imported here now, headed by Vauban ($12), who’s the topweight with 58.5kg, along with Middle Earth ($16) and lightweight hope Royal Supremacy ($10).

With a packed 10-race card and fine weather forecast, it’s one of the great days on the Australian turf, with two 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, and 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 “black type” 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 37 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.

And of course any horse who can win the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double gains an immediate place in the Hall of Very Special Nags.

WHAT’S IT WORTH?

$5 million. The winner takes home $3 million, and even 10th place earns $120k.

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 Racing.com, or Sky Racing, while foxsports.com.au will have live news and updates, including video soon after the race.

MAIN PLOTLINES

Will the plucky Aussie battlers be able to repel the overseas bombardment?

We ask this every year and the answer is usually no, with only one Australian-bred winner in the past seven years.

But this time, there’s a very big chance.

He’s called Half Yours, and he’s a five-year-old gelding by a sire nobody’s heard of. He’s called St Jean, and he mates with mares at a farm in Victoria for $3,300 a time. He’s covered just 26 mares in the past four years.

For a comparison, there’s a sire called I Am Invincible, who’ve served 688 mares in that time at an average fee of $260,000.

St Jean was actually imported from Ireland, but we won’t let that deter us from carping – in this era when European stayers flood the Australian market – that Half Yours is as Aussie as a Vegemite and Bob Katter sandwich.

After winning two of five starts he was offered for sale last November when his owner died. Tony and Calvin McEvoy stumped up $305,000 to acquire him, and it’s proved an astute move.

He won again at Seymour, then in Sydney at Rosehill, when stepped up to 1800m. He then went to the Sunshine Coast in July where in a decent race, the Caloundra Cup over 2400m, he won with breathtaking ease, by 4.5 lengths.

That announced him as an excitement machine, and he’s since scored effortlessly again, over 2000m at Caulfield this time, and run a great fourth over the same trip in the Turnbull Stakes, a Group 1 under the set weights scale which shouldn’t have really favoured this handicapper.

He had 56kg that day but drops to just 52.5 for the Caulfield Cup, for which he’s a very short favourite at around $2.80.

With him for company is another Aus-bred stayer Revelare. He’s won eight from 12, and while he might be more of a Melbourne Cup type, he’s talented enough to be considered a chance too, at the $21.

Up against them is a tide of Europeans, headed by Meydaan. Owned by a Dubai sheikh, he’s only won two from 14, but has been running some handy placings among those superior British stayers, and is an $8 second-favourite.

At $11 there’s Vauban, the former Irish stayer who’s been costly in two Melbourne Cups but has been going better since being imported to the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable this year.

And Japanese stayer Golden Snap is in the mix at $23. Her form suggests she’s here for the longer Melbourne Cup, but these Japanese stayers are tough.

There’s a handful of other chances as well – see below.

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

Duke De Sessa – a gelded Irish import who raced on the pace under his light 52kg impost and won by 1.25 lengths at $11.

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 33 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 barrier stalls were introduced at Caulfield in 1947.

FAVOURITES: Six of nine favourites won between 1999 and 2007, but then only four of 17 since. Favourites won in 2021 and 2022 though, although Boom Time did get up at $50 in 2017.

MAJOR RACES ON THE UNDERCARD

The Thousand Guineas – 3yo fillies, Group 1, 1600m, race 7 at 3.45pm.

An important race for young females, under set weights (they all carry 56kg). It’s a Group 1 that will give its winner’s value on the broodmare market later on a mighty boost. It’s headed by boom filly Apocalyptic at $2.10, having won her past three of four starts in Sydney capped by a G1 at Randwick last start over this trip. Ole Dancer, from the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable, is the only other single-figures runner, at $5.50, after two wins from four starts. Watch also for Ferivia at $13 and Chateau Eze at $19.

Caulfield Classic – 3yos, G3, 2000m, race 2 at 12.50pm, featuring VRC Derby hopefuls.

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

Herald Sun Sprint – G2, 1000m, race 6 at 3.10pm, a short handicap sprint for all comers.

Moonga Stakes – G3, 1400m, race 8 at 4.30pm, a longer sprint for all comers.

Tristarc Stakes – G2, 1400m, race 10 at 5.50pm, a sprint for mares, named after a former good one, the Caulfield Cup winner of 1985.

THE CAULFIELD CUP FIELD

Race 9, 5.15pm, 2400m

1. VAUBAN (Starting barrier 13) Handicap 58.5kg; Approx odds wins/place $11/$3.50. =

FOR: A tough stayer bred in France who started out in Ireland. Has disappointed in two Melbourne Cup raids, but since transferring to master trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in Sydney, has shown glimpses of his old best form from Europe. Won over 2000m in his first start for the new stable in March, then was a good third three runs back over 1600m when first-up from a spell. Last start made a ton of ground to be fifth over this distance (2400m) in the G1 The Metropolitan at Randwick. That’s weaker than this, but he’ll be cherry ripe fit now after three runs from a spell. Has Melbourne’s premier jockey Blake Shinn aboard. Has highest rating in the field (116), that performance marker which helps compare the world’s horses. AGAINST: That song about a four legged friend who’ll never let you down? This friend lets you down. Regularly. Don’t mention the Vauban, you might say, while some punters who write this column have been moved to slap a Vau-ban on themselves. Has run 14th and 11th in his two Melbourne Cups when favourite or close to it. Has at least shown more zip, and been less dour, since switching to Waterhouse-Bott, so the 2400m should suit, particularly after that first go at it this campaign in his last start. Has a slightly tricky starting gate in 13, and having several speedy starters drawn inside of him means he could get trapped wide, but you’d still give him and each-way chance.

2. PRESAGE NOCTURNE (8) 57.5kg; $26/$7.

FOR: Irish-bred French-based stayer who’s won two black type staying races back home. One was over 3000m, which made his owners contemplate a Melbourne Cup mission, but the other was over 2500m, so he’s not just a two-miler. Last-start close third in the prestigious Prix de Kegorlay in August. Is by super sire Wootton Bassett, whose offspring win a lot of big races. Good barrier, and equal second-highest rating (114). AGAINST: That feeling he’s really here for the longer Cup. Also, trainer Alessandro Botti’s stable isn’t one of the most successful in France, currently ranking 36th in the country for winners in the current season. And while jockey Stephane Pasquier knows the horse well, riding him four times for two wins and two placings, horse and rider will be having their first go at Caulfield, which can be a tricky beastie for newbies. Place best.

3. MIDDLE EARTH (3) 56.5kg; $15/$4.40

FOR: Is with last year’s Caulfield Cup winning trainer Ciaron Maher, and jockey Mark Zahra won it the year before, and in 2020. Plus, he’s drawn a brilliant gate in three – the second most successful in this race. This six-year-old gelding is a British-bred import who won a G3 over this trip in England before coming out here, which would be good form for this. AGAINST: The more recent form. Scored at his Australian debut over 2000m in March, but since then has gone 5th, 9th, 5th, 10th and 9th. Did make some ground in that latest run over 2000m though, and will like the extra 400m here, and Zahra has stuck with him while he could have chosen others. Place hope.

4. MEYDAAN (5) 56kg, $8/$2.80

FOR: Quality English-based stayer who comes with a big reputation. In his past two starts has been second and third at Goodwood and Kempton Park over this trip, carrying bigger weights than here, at 58.5kg and 60.5kg. In the strong father-son stable of Simon and Ed Crisford, and has outstanding international jockey Andrea Atzeni aboard, a crack international jockey who’s ridden Caulfield before. Equal second top rater (114). Nice barrier, which hatched last year’s winner in fact. AGAINST: Form has been solid, but after winning his first and fourth starts, he hasn’t scored again in his past nine. You like to see them breaking through at some point. Placings in British races will usually hold you good stead against Australian stayers, but there’s a lot of Europeans in this race. Each way chance.

5. ABSURDE (1) 55.5kg, $26/$7

FOR: Shrewd Irish trainer in Willie Mullins, and a local jockey who knows Caulfield well, Ben Allen. This gelding’s getting on a bit, as a northern hemisphere seven-year-old, but unlike his former stablemate Vauban, he doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Only missed a place once in his past seven runs, and that was when he ran a superb fifth, beaten only 1.7 lengths, in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Drawn the inside. AGAINST: Interesting that he’s in this race, having gone straight into the past two Melbourne Cups without a local run. But that suggests Flemington’s his real goal, and that the wily old silver fox Mullins wants this as merely a good lead-up run. His past 16 races haven’t been any shorter than 2700m, again pointing to Big Cup. And that inside gate is the Caulfield Cup curse, with no winners ever! But you know he’ll give his all. Place.

6. LAND LEGEND (15) 55.5kg; $21/$6

FOR: French-bred stayer In top stable, with Chris Waller, and has a strong, experienced rider in Jamie Mott. Showed up at this trip by winning the G1 Metropolitan last October, and turned in solid run two starts back when fifth over 1800m at this track. Fitter for four runs from a spell. AGAINST: Put in a shocker last start when last of 14 in the Turnbull Stakes. Will be better suited under the handicap conditions here than under the set-weights scale that day, when he had 58kg, but still, you’d want to forgive like the Pope to excuse that run. Also has the difficult gate 15, and while Mott is reliable, he’s only won three G1s at age 37.

7. ZARDOZI (11) 54.5kg; $21/$6

FOR: This five-year-old mare has last year’s winning combo behind her in trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Harry Coffey. Light enough weight, and she ran a good fourth in this race last year. AGAINST: She was an outstanding three-year-old, and a very good four-year-old, but now she’s five, you wonder about her interest levels a bit. Mares can go on you like that. She ran seventh over 1800m at Caulfield two runs back before an 11th in the Turnbull, when unwanted at $31. She did stick on a bit that day, and will probably like the 400m distance rise here, but this is a quality field and you’d be taking a leap of faith. Tricky gate as well, so prefer others.

8. ADELAIDE RIVER (9) 54kg; $23/$6.

FOR: Irish-bred stayer (though his father is named Australia!) who was imported out here early last year, and runs for the Melbourne Cup obsessed owner Lloyd Williams. Had strong form back home before that, including a second in the Irish Derby over this trip in 2023. Good middle barrier. Ran a very close second two starts back over 2000m in Sydney, beaten 0.02 lengths by Birdman, who’s in this race at $16. Will appreciate the step up to 2400m. Barrier nine has a great record in this race, with four wins in the past 33 years. AGAINST: While he went well two runs back, he hasn’t won in two years, and some other form has looked a touch plain, like his last-start seventh in the Turnbull, when he led and weakened late. That doesn’t mean he can’t do well at this trip though; he might appreciate less pace being on in this longer affair. Rough place chance still best.

9. BANKERS CHOICE (14) 54kg; $81/$18

FOR: In the stable of the Hayes Bros, Ben, Will and JD, who have a lot of success. Good record at the distance, with five starts for two wins and three placings. Had a solid trial for this last start when he led in a Listed 2415m race at Mornington, in only his second run back from a spell, and was just caught late in running a 0.5 length third. Good jockey in Billy Egan. AGAINST: Is getting on a bit as an 8yo, and while his last run looked solid, that race was a lot weaker than this. Also has the difficult barrier 14. He loves leading, so will likely go out hard and get across, and that fuel-burning will likely tell a tale late on against this field. Chose “no”.

10. DEAKIN (7) 54kg; $19/$5

FOR: This 6yo gelding is a high-quality French-bred stayer who’s won three of eight since migrating to the well performed Victorian stable of Phillip Stokes. Those wins included one over 2500 at Moonee Valley in February and 2600m at Flemington at his next start, in March, both in black type grade. Has been building up to this with three runs this campaign, the latest a solid sixth in the Turnbull over 2000m, when he raced up on the pace and faded a little late. He’ll appreciate the extra 400m and the slower pace here, and should get a great spot up near the lead from gate seven – which is the most successful barrier in this race in the past 33 years. AGAINST: Hate to say it, for he’s a capable rider, but Dan Stackhouse hasn’t won a G1 yet, aged 35. He’s dependable, but hasn’t shown up as a big race rider. Still, there’s always a first time, and Deakin may be peakin’ at the right time. He’s got a nice light weight and is a sneaky each-way chance.

11. GOLDEN SNAP (18) 53.5kg; $23/$6

FOR: Is a Japanese stayer and they breed them tough up there. Her father was the outstanding Gold Ship, who won six G1s. This 6yo mare only has a 105 rating but has decent form with four wins, from 2400-3000m, and seven placings from 16 starts. Last start was a solid second over 2600m at Sapporo on September 7. AGAINST: Most of her recent form is over longer trips, at 3000m or more, so there’s a feeling she’s here more for the Melbourne Cup. Also has the widest barrier of all, in 18. Her Japanese rider Suguru Hamanaka will need a lot of luck from there in his first look at Caulfield.

12. REVELARE (12) 53.5kg; $21/$6.

FOR: If you’re patriotic, stand up and cheer, Australia, for this 5yo gelding is a true-blue locally-bred stayer – a rare thing these days at this level – even if both of his parents were born in NZ. And he loves winning, having done so in eight of his 12 starts. That makes him lightly-raced, and his trainer Robert Hickmott – who knows his way around stayers – is now being rewarded for his early patience, not even starting the horse till he was almost four. He won five in a row last summer, and whilst that’s the off-season, he’s come back well this spring, winning two races including the Archer Stakes over 2500 pretty convincingly two runs back. Good jockey in Luke Currie. AGAINST: Slightly awkward draw in gate 12, with a lot of speed inside him, which may prevent him getting close to the fence. And while his form is good, he might be better suited by the longer trip of the Melbourne Cup. And his last start left a bit to be desired, when he was a 6.75 length seventh in key Cups lead-up race, The Bart Cummings (2520m). Place hope.

13. RIVER OF STARS (4), 53.5kg; $81/$13

FOR: Irish-bred mare who showed good form in Britain before being bought by Australian interests in the mega-bucks Yulong camp, who win a lot of big races. Won four times in Europe from 2414-2896m. Is in the right stable with Chris Waller, and jockey Beau Mertens is in form. AGAINST: Form has been plain lately, with an eighth and a 12th in her past two starts, over 2000m. Did run third in the Sydney Cup over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m in April, so she’ll probably be a better chance at Flemington.

14. BIRDMAN (10) 52.5kg; $16/$4.60

FOR: Another in the Waller stable, this Irish-bred import broke through for the win many people felt was coming two runs back, over 2000m in a Randwick G3, beating Caulfield Cup rival Adelaide River into second. After that, made good ground from the rear but gave them too much head start when a 2.6 length seventh of 18 in The Metropolitan. Gate 10 is OK, as he should drift back and find a spot. AGAINST: Died on his run a bit at the finish in The Metropolitan, when he came in for punters’ support. You’d be hoping for more in his fourth run since a spell. Is also taking his first look at Caulfield, which can often be an acquired taste for horses. Place only.

15. HALF YOURS (2) 52.5kg; $2.80/$1.55

FOR: Looks like an outstanding, lightly-raced stayer. And if you’re patriotically inclined, he’s also Australian-bred. He’s one of the shortest-priced favourites this century for this race, up there with the outstanding Incentivise, who won at $2.30 in 2021. And he deserves it, having announced himself with a 4.5 length win in the Caloundra Cup over this trip four runs back. Since then he’s won by 3.5 lengths over 2000m at Caulfield under 54.5kg at G3 level, before a last-start fourth in the Turnbull Stakes, where he wasn’t expected to do much under the set weights scale. He drops from 56kg that day to 52.5kg here, and has drawn an ideal inside gate for gun rider Jamie Melham. AGAINST: We’re really struggling here. That thing about there being no such thing as certainties? The one little thing is that while gate 2 seems wonderful, he’s going to get back in the field a bit, and Melham may need all her guile to weave a way through traffic as she’ll be on the inside part of the track. But the horse has a finishing burst that should help him manoeuvre his way clear as a lot of other horses are tiring, especially with his light weight. The one to beat.

16. ROYAL SUPREMACY (6) 52.5kg; $10/$3.30

FOR: Another lightweight with a big chance. Irish-bred stayer imported for the crack Ciaron Maher stable, and he’s racing very well, winning three of his past four. The latest was when stepped up to 2400m for The Metropolitan, when he charged home for a 0.77 length win after being well supported by punters. That day, and this day, he has Robbie Dolan aboard, an expat Irishman himself. Half-famous for singing on The Voice, Dolan lit up the world last November when winning the Melbourne Cup aboard the bolter Knight’s Choice. From gate six, he could win another Cup here. AGAINST: Not a whole lot, with the slight caveat that you wonder if last start was his big day. He’s been in training since the autumn, which is a long time, and his good form will have enticed connections to keep pushing to the spring. So was last start a peak performance you can’t expect him to repeat here? Don’t doubt Maher, though. Each-way.

17. VALIANT KING (16) 52kg; $21/$6

FOR: Turned in one of the best trials you’d see for this race with his storming victory last start in The Bart Cummings (2520m) by almost three lengths, blitzing the field from 10th entering the home straight. Trained by Chris Waller, who’s won this race twice in its past five runnings. AGAINST: That last-start win came at the long odds of $61, so he was a bolter’s bolter. That’s because it followed a first-up 18th, though that was over the unsuitably short 1500m. Stepped up 1000m, he loved it. He could spring a place surprise here, but from gate 16, he’ll be up against it. Rough place hope only.

18. PLYMOUTH (17) 51kg; $51/$12

FOR: From the in-form stable of the Hayes Bros, and has a postage stamp weight of 51kg. Form has been OK with a win in the 2100m Benalla Cup followed by a close second over 2400m in G2 grade at Caulfield last start. AGAINST: Has been running in weaker races than this. Has drawn a terrible outside gate. Is an honest four-year-old gelding but might be better placed here in a year’s time. Outside place hope only.

TIPS: 1. Half Yours; 2. Middle Earth; 3. Deakin; 4. Revelare.