Betting for this weekend’s time-honoured Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) is heavily weighted towards the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained progressive galloper Half Yours, who will lead a field of eighteen spring stayers, many with an eye on the $10 million Melbourne Cup.
Half Yours is firm favourite in 2025 Caulfield Cup betting for this weekend. Photo: Bradley Photos.
Favourite Seeks Rare Double
Half Yours sits atop the latest Caulfield Cup odds at $2.90 through Ladbrokes.
The five-year-old St Jean gelding drew ideally in barrier two and carries a light 52.5kg with Jamie Melham retaining the ride.
He was a brilliant 3.5 length winner of the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at the track on September 20 before a brave fourth to Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
Significantly, he relishes the distance, having thrashed rivals over the mile and a half in the Caloundra Cup during the winter.
He aims to be the first stayer since Jameka (2016) to complete the Naturalism Stakes – Caulfield Cup double and the first favourite to salute since Incentivise ($2.30 in 2021).
The Local and International Contenders
The main danger sits on the second line of Caulfield Cup betting, UK raider Meydaan ($8), prepared by Simon & Ed Crisford.
The nicely bred Frankel entire jumps from barrier five with world-class Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni steering.
Meydaan was last seen placing third in the Group 3 September Stakes overseas under a demanding 60.5kg, and he drops sharply to 56kg for his Australian debut.
He has overseas winning form up to 2212m, suggesting the 2400m trip should not be an issue.
The international flavour is bolstered by Japan’s Golden Snap ($17).
The classy grey mare has a tough gate in 18 but boasts a strong 2400m strike rate (5:2-1-1) and is weighted well, with her key target being the Melbourne Cup.
Ciaron Maher, a two-time winner of the race (Jameka, 2016 and Duke De Sessa, 2024), leads the home defence with a trio of runners, headed by Royal Supremacy ($8.50).
The five-year-old enters in outstanding form, having won the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick carrying just 50kg.
He is up to 52.5kg here with Robbie Dolan aboard from barrier six, chasing The Metropolitan – Caulfield Cup double last achieved by Tawqeet (2006).
Maher’s other hopes are the imported Middle Earth ($14) and mare Zardozi ($26).
Middle Earth, an ideal barrier three draw with Mark Zahra, has a 50% winning strike rate at 2400m but has been unplaced in the Underwood and Turnbull Stakes, suggesting he needs the extra trip to find his best.
Zardozi, who finished fourth in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups last year, needs significant improvement after unplaced runs in her two lead-up starts.
The top-weight, Vauban (58.5kg) for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, remains safe in the markets at $11.
No horse has carried more than 58kg to victory in over 20 years, but the two-time Melbourne Cup performer ran a strong fifth in The Metropolitan carrying the same weight, suggesting a top-four finish is possible.
The 2025 Caulfield Cup is set to run as Caulfield Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
2025 Caulfield Cup Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vauban | Blake Shinn | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 13 | 58.5kg | 7 | G | 0x365 | $2,106,607 |
| 2 | Presage Nocturne | Stephane Pasquier | Alessandro Botti | 8 | 57.5kg | 5 | H | x13x3 | $445,717 |
| 3 | Middle Earth | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher | 3 | 56.5kg | 5 | G | 9×509 | $691,126 |
| 4 | Meydaan | Andrea Atzeni | Simon & Ed Crisford | 5 | 56kg | 4 | G | 20523 | $265,489 |
| 5 | Absurde | Ben Allen | Willie Mullins | 1 | 55.5kg | 7 | G | 32x3x | $1,476,299 |
| 6 | Land Legend | Jamie Mott | Chris Waller | 15 | 55.5kg | 5 | G | x3950 | $1,351,017 |
| 7 | Zardozi | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 11 | 54.5kg | 5 | M | 0x570 | $2,515,000 |
| 8 | Adelaide River | Jordan Childs | Kris Lees | 9 | 54kg | 5 | G | x8827 | $1,078,271 |
| 9 | Bankers Choice | Billy Egan | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 14 | 54kg | 8 | G | 72×03 | $1,564,908 |
| 10 | Deakin | Daniel Stackhouse | Phillip Stokes | 7 | 54kg | 5 | G | 1×076 | $459,186 |
| 11 | Golden Snap | S Hamanaka | Katsunori Tanaka | 18 | 53.5kg | 5 | M | 1x6x2 | $1,275,032 |
| 12 | Revelare | Luke Currie | Robert Hickmott | 12 | 53.5kg | 5 | G | x7117 | $555,500 |
| 13 | River Of Stars | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 4 | 53.5kg | 6 | M | 3×780 | $867,940 |
| 14 | Birdman | Teo Nugent | Chris Waller | 10 | 52.5kg | 4 | G | x2517 | $429,034 |
| 15 | Half Yours | Jamie Melham | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 2 | 52.5kg | 5 | G | 21514 | $511,840 |
| 16 | Royal Supremacy | Robbie Dolan | Ciaron Maher | 6 | 52.5kg | 4 | G | 01121 | $779,022 |
| 17 | Valiant King | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller | 16 | 52kg | 5 | G | 93×01 | $578,842 |
| 18 | Plymouth | Celine Gaudray | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 17 | 51kg | 4 | G | x0612 | $333,400 |
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