The 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw has been conducted, with clear favourite Lucia Valentina drawing fairly in barrier 12 for the Group 1 event that will be held at Caulfield this weekend.

The Offer was one of the big losers from 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw that was held at Crown Casino this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Lucia Valentina got a dream run when he stamped herself as Caulfield Cup favourite with an impressive performance in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2400m) at Flemington on October 4, but jockey Kerrin McEvoy will likely have a bit more work to do after the awkward barrier draw.

The Savabeel mare will likely be settled in the second half of the Caulfield Cup field and connections will be hoping that the four-year-old is able to find clear running in the final stages of the race.

Japanese stayer Bande is expected to take up the running in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday and the progressive galloper should be able to get across to the leader without too many issues after drawing barrier ten.

Bande will jump from barrier eight once the emergencies are removed from the field and connections appeared to be delighted when they drew the gate at the barrier draw this afternoon.

Fellow Japanese galloper Admire Rakti has a different racing style to Bande, but the consistent stayer always fared well at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw and should receive a lovely run into the race from gate eight.

Admire Rakti impressed onlookers with a strong piece of trackwork at the International Equine Centre at Werribee this morning and trainer Tomoyuki Umeda is confident that the Heart’s Cry entire will produce his usual tough effort.

Imported galloper Lidari only secured a start in the 2014 Caulfield Cup field this morning following the scratching of My Ambivalent and his luck continued when he drew barrier four this afternoon, while 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon (barrier four), Jake Stephens-trained Gris Caro (barrier three) and talented imported galloper Stipulate (barrier five) also fared well at the barrier draw.

Dandino was on the third line of betting when the final field was released this morning, but his odds are expected to drift significantly after he was allocated the outside gate at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw.

The Dansili gelding overcame a wide draw to storm home late and finish second behind Fawkner in the Caulfield Cup last year and connections will take hope from the fact that Dunaden came from the outside gate to win the 2012 edition of the race.

Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer is another horse that will need plenty of luck to win the Caulfield Cup after he was allocated barrier 19.

The Offer has improved in each of his race starts during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival to date and will be stepping up to a more appropriate staying trip, but jockey Tommy Berry may be forced to settle the son of Montjeu towards the tail of the field.

Trainer Donna Logan admitted that she was very worried heading into the Caulfield Cup barrier draw and a look of horror struck her face when she drew barrier 17 for the Australian Oaks winner.

Rising Romance won over 2400 metres in the Australian Oaks earlier this year and is one of the few horses in the field that is proven over the distance, but will be facing the toughest test of her racing career to date.

Other horses that did not fare as well in the 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw were Lloyd Williams-owned Sea Moon (barrier 21), The Metropolitan winner Junoob (barrier 15), tough Kiwi stayer Who Shot Thebarman (barrier 16), and Hebert Power Stakes winner Big Memory (barrier 20).