We've arrived at one of the season's most highly anticipated race days – 2025 Caulfield Cup Day!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The time-honoured Caulfield Cup 2025 will see a capacity field of local and international stayers chase a place in the history books and a share in a cool $5 million on Saturday afternoon.
With many $10 million Melbourne Cup prospects engaged, we'll also start to get a far better ideal of who to follow on the first Tuesday of November!
I've run the rule over all ten races to provide my Caulfield best bets, including 2025 Caulfield Cup tips below.
Race 1 - Lamaro's Hotel Plate (1400m) – 12:15pm AEDT
No. 1 Matahga
MATAHGA makes his return to the races in the first on Caulfield Cup Day 2025.
Matahga hasn't been seen at the races since June, but he was almost faultless during his debut prep, finishing a close-up second at his first start before recording consecutive victories, including the Listed Oaklands Stakes.
He's had the benefit of a couple of trials ahead of Saturday's return and this looks an appropriate campaign launchpad.
Race 2 - Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) – 12:50pm AEDT
No. 1 Options
OPTIONS has enjoyed a glittering start to his racing career and rates as a key winning chance in the Caulfield Classic.
The Impending colt has only made four appearances at the races so far, but he's won on three of those occasions, highlighted by an eye-catching performance in the Listed Super Impose last time out.
Getting out to the 2000m this week looks to suit; Harry Coffey sticks and the horse can further stamp himself as a leading Derby prospect.
Race 3 - Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) – 1:25pm AEDT
No. 2 Yum
I'm happy to give YUM another chance in the Ethereal Stakes.
Having recorded consecutive victories in maiden company at Seymour and in the Listed Jim Moloney over 1400m here at Caulfield last month, the Ghaiyyath filly was sent off a reasonably popular pick in Edward Manifold betting last time out but finishing three lengths sixth.
She steps out this week a fit horse and I thought that was effort was the run of a galloper looking for more ground, which she gets this week.
Race 4 - Listed Gothic Stakes (1200m) – 2pm AEDT
No. 2 Tentyris
This is a quality edition of the Gothic Stakes with several key chances engaged, including TENTYRIS.
Tentyris was excellent during his two-year-old prep, winning two of four starts including the Todman Stakes, while he returned to action to finish a length and a half third behind the likes of McGaw down the straight in the Danehill.
He meets that horse again this week, but I'm confident this bloke has the upside and can turn the tables, and getting back into a race with a turn also looks ideal.
Race 5 - Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) – 2:35pm AEDT
No. 5 New York Lustre
NEW YORK LUSTRE has been freshened ahead of the Alinghi Stakes.
The Manhattan Rain mare has been a strong and consistent performer for the Enver Jusufovic yard since debuting, winning five of twelve starts, placing a further three times and finding form around some quality opposition.
She's six weeks between starts but typically produces her best on fresh legs, while her performance to only just miss in the Sir John Monash Stakes over this route back in July adds further confidence this week.
Race 6 - Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) – 3:10pm AEDT
No. 3 Arabian Summer
Some handy sprinters make up the 2025 Caulfield Sprint field included ARABIAN SUMMER, who I have put on top.
Arabian Summer is yet to strike in two runs back this time, but she ran out of her skin to place in the Group 1 Moir first up, while she returned from a quick freshen up behind Giga Kick in last week's Schillaci Stakes.
There's no horse of that calibre engaged in this contest, and I love that Arabian Summer is on the quick back up.
From Barrier 8, I'm confident she'll be able to find a nice position in the run before finishing off well.
Race 7 - Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) – 3:45pm AEDT
APOCALYPTIC looks well placed to pull off the Flight Stakes/Thousand Guineas double.
She was given one start during her two-year-old season and immediately tipped out, and that decision has already paid big dividends this time in with Apocalyptic winning all three races in Sydney's Princess Series, including the Group 1 Flight Stakes a fortnight ago.
She's hard fit and as long as she handles the Victorian way of going, I think she'll win again.
I'm going to select her as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Getta Good Feeling running into the first three.
Getta Good Feeling has improved noticeably with each of three runs back this time and was eye-catching late to win the Group 2 Edward Manifold last time.
She's fit and the mile looks perfect at this point of her preparation.
Same Race Multi selections:
► 1 Apocalyptic (Win)
► 4 Getta Good Feeling (Top 3)
Race 8 - Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) – 4:30pm AEDT
No. 3 Private Eye
I'm happy to stick with the veteran warhorse PRIVATE EYE when he takes his place in the Moonga Stakes field.
Private Eye wound back the clock with an outstanding and dominant performance in the PB Lawrence Stakes here back in August, while he was only denied by an impressive Pericles in the Tramway Stakes up in Sydney.
Having since finished fourth behind the likes of Fangirl and Lindermann in the lucrative 7 Stakes over a mile at Randwick, he was given a quiet trial earlier this week and looks cherry ripe ahead of this suitable contest.
Race 9 - Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) – 5:15pm AEDT
No. 15 Half Yours & No. 11 Golden Snap E/W
Two selections for me in 2025 Caulfield Cup betting including early favourite HALF YOURS, who I've got on top.
Half Yours has continued to improve with each of his thirteen starts since debuting and his form through the Spring Carnival this year has been excellent.
Having booked his place in this field by winning the Group 3 Naturalism in dominant fashion last month, the St Jean gelding completed his tune up when an eye-catching fourth in the Turnbull Stakes last time out.
Jamie Melham understandably sticks in the saddle and with this being his major campaign target, he looks to be in peak order for the task at hand.
I'm also going to have a small each way bet on the Japanese raider, GOLDEN SNAP at big odds ($23 at publish).
Golden Snap has turned in some fine performances in some of Japan's biggest staying features, and while he did fade from an on-pace position in March's Hanshin Daishoten, he mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run on from midfield behind Mystery Way at Sapporo when resuming last month.
I'm confident he'll take good improvement for that hit-out and given he has drawn into the Caulfield Cup field in a wide barrier, instructions look likely to be settle back off the pace regardless.
Race 10 - Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) – 5:50pm AEDT
No. 2 Splash Back
SPLASH BACK is the one for me in the Tristarc Stakes.
The Le Havre mare started a popular favourite in betting ahead of the Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington back in early August but turned in a flat performance that day, and after a couple of near misses second and third up, she returned to winning form in the Stocks Stakes last time out.
She does drop back down to the 1400m this week but gets the services of Nash Rawiller, and she boasts a form and class edge over a number of these rivals.
