The bookies are having a hard time separating the top two fancies in Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 2016 betting for this weekend in Melbourne, but some early money is coming in for Impending who is narrow favourite for the Group 1 classic.

Divine Prophet (pictured) is easing in his price to defeat Impending this weekend in the 2016 Caulfield Guineas betting markets. Photo: Steve Hart.

For the past two years the Stan Fox Stakes winner from Sydney has travelled south and won the $1 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) next start with Shooting To Win (2014) and Press Statement (2015) both completing the interstate double.

This season a final field of 14 colts and geldings is engaged for the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas, odds at the race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au a battle for top spot between this year’s Stan Fox winner Impending ($4.60) and Divine Prophet ($4.80).

After opening at $6, the John O’Shea-trained Lonhro colt Impending has firmed notably to continue to frank the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) form from Rosehill on September 24.

His win in that followed the brave third to star stablemate Astern in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) and Saturday marks the up-and-comer’s first Melbourne assignment.

Easing in his price to become this year’s Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas winner is the Stan Fox Stakes runner-up Divine Prophet (out from $3.70) who is drawn the rails.

Impending jumps from a wide barrier 10 draw, which hasn’t produced a Caulfield Guineas champion since his sire Lonhro (2001).

Barrier one on the other hand has produced three winners in the past seven years, most recently Long John (1 of 14 in 2013).

Choisir colt Divine Prophet gets that inside run on Saturday out to turn the tables on Impending with Dwayne Dunn booked for the ride.

Dunn rode the Team Hawkes-trained All Too Hard (2012) to victory and Divine Prophet should enjoy stepping out over a mile this weekend and reuniting with the hoop who rode him to a third in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at the distance behind Prized Icon in mid-April.

It is a wide open top half of the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas market this season with a further three fancies under $10 for the win including Sacred Elixir ($6.50).

Tony Pike’s New Zealand raider saluted over the mile in Brisbane’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) as a two-year-old and gets the distance again second-up this time in.

The son of Pour Moi returned a fortnight back and won the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) giving him the chance this weekend to complete the double last achieved by Helmet (2011).

He is followed in the markets by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained More Than Ready colt Evacuation ($7) and the James Cummings-trained Stan Fox Stakes third placegetter Good Standing ($8.50).

Favourites have saluted for the Caulfield Guineas punters three times in the past five years, with the last to salute at double-figures behind the aforementioned All Too Hard ($11 in 2013).

This year the best fancied of the double-figure hopes chasing an upset Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas result include the in-form Tony McEvoy-trained Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes winner over the distance at Moonee Valley last Friday night Hey Doc ($11) and the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained New Zealander Saracino ($12).

Check out the latest Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 2016 betting odds below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your favourites at the right price this weekend.

2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Odds