THE CAULFIELD CUP

Group One, $5 million, 2400m, handicap race for three-years and older, run at Caulfield, Melbourne, on October 19, 2019

HISTORY

* First run in 1879 when won by Newminster

* Switched from autumn to spring in 1881 when two cups were held, one for each season, while the race was again run twice in 1943 due to a large number of entries

* 11 horses have completed the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double in the same year, the most recent being Ethereal (2001)

* Five is the most number of wins by a jockey, Scobie Breasley, who won four cups in a row from 1942 to 1945.

* Seven is the most number of wins by a trainer, Bart Cummings.

* Only two horses have won the race back to back, Poseidon (1906-07) and Rising Fast (1954-55)

* Other dual winners of the Caulfield Cup have been Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Whittier (1922, 1925), Uncle Sam (1912, 1914), Hymettus (1898, 1901) and Paris (1892, 1894)

* International winners include Taufan's Melody (1998), All The Good (2008), Dunaden (2012), Admire Rakti (2014) and Best Solution (2018)

* Three female trainers have had winners - Lady Herries with Taufan's Melody (1998), Sheila Laxon with Ethereal (2001) and Gai Waterhouse with Descarado (2010)

* The shortest placed winner was Tulloch (1957) at $1.67

TALKING POINTS

* Imported stayer Finche is favourite to give champion trainer Chris Waller his first Caulfield Cup

* Mustajeer's jockey Damien Oliver could equal the riding record of five wins. Oliver's most recent of his four victories was 20 years ago on Sky Heights

* Constantinople will be the first northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old to contest the race

* Jockey Ben Melham is striving for his first Caulfield Cup on Mirage Dancer having finished third on Johannes Vermeer in 2017 and a close second on Homesman last year

* Hartnell has top weight of 58kg. Admire Rakti (2014), Dunaden (2012) and Northerly (2002) have won with that weight in the past 20 years

* Damian Lane rides Mer De Glace, a horse he won two races on in Japan this year

* Light weight contender Wolfe is on a quick back-up after clinching his spot in the race with victory in Wednesday's Coongy Cup

WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING

"Chris (Waller) and the team have got him spot-on. And I'm just really thankful for the opportunity that they've given me this Saturday to hopefully win my first Caulfield Cup" - Finche's jockey Michael Walker

"We've always sought to tailor his preparation to what he's looking for and after a really good Caulfield Cup trial in the Turnbull Stakes we were enthused to bring him back to Caulfield at a track where he's raced so beautifully in the past" - Hartnell's trainer James Cummings

"If he runs to his work he will be hard to beat" - Mirage Dancer's jockey Ben Melham

"He cleaned up nicely from having his trip to the races in the Turnbull Stakes and 2400 metres suits him a lot better. He's spot on" - Vow And Declare's trainer Danny O'Brien

"It's good to have him out here. He obviously profiles really well ... I'd say if he brings his best he's going to be really competitive" - jockey Damian Lane on Japanese horse Mer De Glace

"I think he's certainly up to this grade, no doubt. And it's just a matter of how he handles Caulfield" - Mustajeer's rainer Kris Lees

"She's another horse who is going to be around 50/1 but I showed that I could do it on (2017 winner) Boom Time. So if I can just go in with that same approach, hopefully I can do it again" - Qafila's jockey Cory Parish.