The iconic Caulfield Cup will be run on Saturday with a capacity field of 18 runners. The $6.5 million feature is one of two Group 1 races on the card with the Thousand Guineas also being run. We also have two Group 2 and four Group 3 races on an action-packed 10-race program.
They will be racing on a Good track with sunny conditions leading up to race day. The rail is out 3m for the entire circuit.
We take you through each race on the card and bring you all of our best bets for Caulfield below! And if you're keen to have a bet on Saturday and want to try out a new bookie, why not try Unibet?
Caulfield Racing Tips: Saturday, October 17th 2026
Race 1: Sportsbet Classic 2000m – 12:15pm AEDT
(2) Vallice is a three-year-old colt that finished second in the Listed Super Impose Stakes last start, beating home a number of rivals that line up again. He was back in the field and worked around runners to be the widest runner in the home straight. The winner saved a stack of ground, but this colt was super impressive with the extra work that he had to do. The smaller field should suit and trainer Ciaron Maher is having a good spring carnival so far.
(6) Russian Rock brings a different form line into the race, finishing fifth in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes. The gelding was a good effort, hitting the line well, and probably looking for further which makes the 2000m enticing.
(2) Vallice WIN
$3.30 (2 Units)
Race 2: Sharp EIT Solutions Ethereal Stakes 2000m – 12:50pm AEDT
(1) Voynichese won the Listed Show A Heart at Eagle Farm over 1500m in June before tackling the Group 1 JJ Atkins where she finished seventh. She then had a brief spell. In two runs this prep, she has finished eighth and seventh, the latest was a 2.33-length defeat in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes last week. That run was full of merit and if she can lob midfield to come with one run, she could fight out the finish at odds.
(2) Miss Waititi was given a brilliant ride from Craig Williams, saving ground to win the Listed Super Impose Stakes by 2.5 lengths. It will be interesting to see how far back in the run she is from gate two, but if she gets any clear running in the last 400m, she will be dangerous.
(1) Voynichese E/W
$8.50/$2.75 (1U/2U)
Race 3: Manhari Alinghi Stakes 1100m – 1:25pm AEDT
(1) Geegees Mistruth is the class horse of the field, winner of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville three runs ago. She drops sharply in grade from recent Group 1 runs in the Moir Stakes and Manikato Stakes. Beaten around two lengths in both, if she reproduces that form here, she is going to be very hard to beat.
(7) Eagle Express won first-up from a spell, capturing a Benchmark 94 Handicap at Rosehill. She then was runner up in a Benchmark 88 Handicap at the same venue over 1200m. She looks to have each-way claims in the race.
(1) Geegees Mistruth WIN
$2.20 (3 Units)
Race 4: Quayclean Gothic Stakes 1400m – 2:00pm AEDT
(13) I Am Aria was narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes by Over The Bridge who is $5.50 for the Thousand Guineas later in the meeting. She raced outside the leader and fought on gamely as she was overwhelmed late by the winner. This is a tricky race, but if she can land close to the speed and not get involved in too much early work, she should have something to offer late.
(12) Calamari Ring was fourth in the Scarborough Stakes and her effort was good from further back in the run. She should be in the second half of the field and be one of the strongest closers in the race.
(13) I Am Aria WIN
$4.40 (1.5 Units)
Race 5: Sportsbet Harry White Stakes 1400m – 2:35pm AEDT
(1) Private Eye is a nine-year-old gelding that has won 14 races from 55 starts and more than 13 million in prizemoney. He has won twice from three attempts at Caulfield, the latest saw him finish second to Cosmic Crusader in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes. Since that effort, he returned to Sydney for a disappointing seventh in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes. His last-start third in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes was an okay effort. This looks a more suitable assignment and he should run well.
(2) War Machine was third at his first-up run before finishing down the field in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. He won a Flemington jump out to keep him ticking over for this and you’d expect his class to take him a long way. Looks a huge threat.
(1) Private Eye WIN
$2.50 (2 Units)
Race 6: Henley Homes Sprint 1000m – 3:10pm AEDT
(5) Bev’s Nine has had nine career starts for six wins and two minor placings. He was last seen resuming for a third placing behind Pallaton in a Benchmark 100 Handicap. This time around, he gets a big weight swing on Pallaton and gate seven gives jockey Blake Shinn options. In a really competitive race over five furlongs, Bev’s Nine looks good value in the race.
(2) Cavalry Girl has not finished worse than second in seven runs this preparation, winning four times. She won the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes two starts ago before finishing second to My Gladiola in the Group 1 Moir Stakes. She looks hardest to beat and the price reflects that at $2.70.
(5) Bev’s Nine E/W
$6.50/$2.30 (1U/2U)
Race 7: Stow Storage Thousand Guineas 1600m – 3:45pm AEDT
(2) Pretty Baby had a run of four-straight wins come to an end in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes as Regal Ambition proved too good. It was still a nice run from Pretty Baby who was favourite. She is now double figures and that price looks appealing in the Group 1 feature. Hopefully there is some good tempo up front and the South Australian filly can be the beneficiary.
(9) Regal Ambition will get back from the wide gate and look to come with one run, just as she did when capturing the Jim Moloney. Her closing speed was terrific in that and she will need to call upon those reserves to topple Saintly Dancer who will be racing on the speed.
Also backing: (9) Regal Ambition WIN $4.80 (1.5 Units)
(2) Pretty Baby E/W
$11/$3.10 (1U/1.5U)
Race 8: Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes 1200m – 4:30pm AEDT
(6) Doubt Time won on debut as a two-year-old before being turned out. He then returned with a fifth in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes won by The Next Episode. The wide gate is not ideal and he will have to be good to win but looks to be a horse worth following going forward.
(12) Over Excited is the lone filly in the race and she also comes out of the Danehill where she ran seventh. Prior to that she was runner up in the Group 3 Cap D’Antibes won by Satono Glow. She looks to have strong claims.
TIP: No Bet
Race 9: Sportsbet Caulfield Cup 2400m – 5:15pm AEDT
(2) Cosmic Crusader is a model of consistency and he showed his best with a dominant Turnbull Stakes victory. This will be his first time at 2400m which is the query. Willie Pike continues to ride the gelding and it would be great if he could capture a big race like the Caulfield Cup, following in the footsteps of the mighty Northerly who won the race in 2002 for the Western Australians.
(10) Wine Dark Sea is an English raider prepared by Harry Charlton who is racing first-up in the country. The distance is perfect for this five-year-old gelding, winning at Royal Ascot four starts ago. He was last seen in August winning the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
(2) Cosmic Crusader WIN
$5.00 (1.5 Units)
Race 10: Nationwide Tristarc Stakes 1400m – 5:50pm AEDT
(7) Betwitchery is deep into her campaign, finishing third in the Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes won by Stylish. Gold Medallist was second in that race and lines up here too. Betwitchery was working through the line nicely although it was a wet track and the times showed that. The map looks good from the inside gate and she can either try to lead or be right on the pace. Worth a throw at the stumps at big odds.
(12) Concord Connie looks a deserved favourite in the race with five starts producing three wins and two seconds. There were excuses at Mornington as she was caught without cover three-wide and wanted to hang. She should be able to sit back and let down with a big run in the Tristarc.
(7) Betwitchery E/W
$17/$4.20 (0.5U/1.5U)
