The 2011 Caulfield Cup market $2.30 top fancy has drawn barrier 11 but could jump from  barrier nine minus the emergencies.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh believes his chances of winning an initial Caulfield Cup is bright in 2011.

“He has just kept on improving at each run and has come on leaps and bounds since his win in the Turnbull Stakes,” Kavanagh said after the draw.

“He can use his good speed from the barrier and take up a good spot.”

Topweight Mighty High has drawn perfectly in barrier one.

The Hong Kong based galloper with the natural speed to take up a good position has pleased the John Moore yard.

“He is a horse with early gate speed and his best distance is 2400m,” George Moore, son of trainer John Moore said.

“He has settled in (in Australia) really well and we think he ran well in the Caulfield Stakes last Saturday.”
Mighty High finished fourth to Descarado after being buffeted at the home turn.

2011 Caulfield Cup second favourite Lucas Cranach lost no admirers when he drew barrier three though stewards will watch theprogress of a foot  abscess he is trying to overcome

Since  1980 three Caulfield Cup winners have come out of that alley, the same number of winners as barrier 7 drawn by Unusual Suspect and barrier 5 drawn by Manighar.

The most successful barrier since that time is barrier 9 which may be occupied by the Mick Kent bolter Domesky.

Which barrier horses ultimately jump from could change with emergencies or scratching coming out.

December Draw with the natural attrition of emergencies would jump from barrier nine.

The overseas trained horses have generally drawn well with Mighty High (barrier one), Manighar (barrier 5), Drunken Sailor (barrier 18) keeping connections pleased.

Drunken Sailor is a backmarker and connections haven’t been put off by the wide draw.

Absolutely (barrier 22) one of the fancied runners drew poorly while South Australian mare Southern Speed is well  placed from barrier 4 .

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An 18 field capacity will line up backed by four emergency, one of them Spechenka having been relegated from the field by Racing Victoria discretionary powers.

Both Macedonian and Green Moon were favoured over the Queenslander.

While its trainer Ben Ahrens is hoping for a late scratching he accepts the terms and conditions of the he 2011 Caulfield Cup.

Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent has three runners Domesky, Unusual Suspect and Absolutely in the Caulfield Cups of 2011.

Last year’s winning trainer Gai Waterhouse has Tullamore in the Cup after dodging the race with 2010 Caulfield Cup winner Descarado who is being saved for the W S Cox Plate on October 22.

Other big guns represented in the Cup are Bart Cummings with Precedence, Lee Freedman with Lucas Cranach and Chris Waller with good wet track Hawk Island.

The overseas trained horse are Manighar, Drunken Sailor, Mighty High and Saptapadi.

Melbourne is predicted to be dry for the rest of the week despite a wet day today.

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Caulfield Cup final field with early jockeys

The Caulfield Cup field of 2011 will consistent of 18 starters and four emergencies but three horses are qualified in 17^th place.

The three are Green Moon, Macedonian and Spechenka and it will be up to the discretion of the Racing Victoria officials to decide on he final field.

Queenslander Spechenka has the most prizemoney of the three horses vying for a spot.

If may or not work in his favour but having not raced during the 2011 Melbourne Spring Carnival to date will do him no favours.

Owner Lloyd Williams is hoping Green Moon gets a start especially after withdrawing Melbourne Cup fancies At First Sight or Midas Touch.

Anudjaun and Lucky Eighty Eight are qualified and should make up part of the emergency contingent while Rebel Soldier and Midnight Martini are in a battle for the 22^nd spot.

Favourites December Draw and Lucas Cranach remain as does four overseas trained gallopers Mighty High, Drunken Sailor, Manighar and Saptapadi.

The final field will be decided at 3.30pm today with the barrier draw conducted tomorrow.

<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Horse</th>
<th>Trainer</th>
<th>Weight*</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>December Draw (IRE)</td>
<td>Mark Kavanagh</td>
<td>52.0 (2.0)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mighty High (FR)</td>
<td>John Moore</td>
<td>54.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Absolutely</td>
<td>Michael Kent</td>
<td>51.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Drunken Sailor (IRE)</td>
<td>Luca Cumani</td>
<td>54.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Manighar (FR)</td>
<td>Luca Cumani</td>
<td>54.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Unusual Suspect (USA)</td>
<td>Micahel Kent</td>
<td>54.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shootoff (NZ)</td>
<td>Graeme Rogerson</td>
<td>52.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lucas Cranach (GER)</td>
<td>Anthony Freedman</td>
<td>53.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Precedence (NZ)</td>
<td>Bart Cummings</td>
<td>53.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hawk Island (IRE)</td>
<td>Chris Waller</td>
<td>53.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Saptapadi (IRE)</td>
<td>Brian Ellison</td>
<td>52.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tullamre (NZ)</td>
<td>Gai Waterhouse</td>
<td>52.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Domesky</td>
<td>Michael Kent</td>
<td>50.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dream Pedlar</td>
<td>Troy Blacker</td>
<td>51.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Niwot</td>
<td>Michael, Wayne &amp; John Hawkes</td>
<td>51.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Southern Speed</td>
<td>Leon Macdonald &amp; Andrew Gluyas</td>
<td>50.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Macedonian (NZ)</td>
<td>Peter G Moody</td>
<td>50.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spechenka</td>
<td>Ben Ahrens</td>
<td>50.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green Moon (IRE)</td>
<td>Robert Hickmott</td>
<td>50.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anudjawun (NZ)</td>
<td>Shaun Dwyer</td>
<td>50.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lucky Eighty Eight</td>
<td>Mathew Ellerton &amp; Simon Zahra</td>
<td>50.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rebel Soldier (IRE)</td>
<td>David Hayes</td>
<td>50.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Midnight Martini</td>
<td>Mark Kavanagh</td>
<td>50.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

The favourite so far is Metal Bender in barrier 2 and carrying 56kg as the second top weight. He is priced at $6.00 on SportsBet, and he may be a bit of a risk given his declining record this season. His performances have mostly been places, however, so a good day could see him take a Caulfield Cup win.

Shocking follows in the odds, priced at $6.50 to win and starting from barrier 12. A win in the Makybe Diva Stakes seemed to be a sign at the start of the season, but a fifth place Underwood Stakes finish nixed that idea. A second place in the Turnbull Stakes next start picked up punters’ hopes, though, and Shocking’s proven staying power could very well hand him a Caulfield Cup win and almost certain Melbourne Cup favouritism.

Gai Waterhouse’s Herculian Prince is looking fantastic in barrier 6 with 53.5 kg (thanks to a 2.0kg penalty) and priced at $7.50 to win. A win in The Metropolitan proved he could take a major 2400 metre race, though this did follow a fifth place finish in the Colin Stephens Quality.

If you would like to bet on the 2010 Caulfield Cup race, then be sure to sign up for an account at a site like SportsBet or IASbet. The racing offers at Sportsbet are very generous and IASbet has Caulfield Cup promotions running right now, such as getting up to a $200 refund if you back Shocking and he comes second.

Also, for live updates on the Caulfield Cup, be sure to check out the news section of Races.com.au

2010 Caulfield Cup Odds