The Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 2017 betting markets are starting to heat-up ahead of the Melbourne feature race on Saturday with early money coming in for double-figure hopeful Showtime.

Stutt Stakes winner Showtime is firming in Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 2017 betting after drawing barrier one for Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A full field of three-year-olds face off in this year’s Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m), but despite attracting a capacity line-up just three of the runners are under double-figures for the win.

Showtime is not one of the single-figure fancies, but he is the early Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas market mover looking at the updated odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.

Drawing barrier one has seen punters come for the Hawkes Racing-trained son of Snitzel who is out to salute from the inside alley as Divine Prophet did last year.

A total of eight Caulfield Guineas winners since 1984, and four of the past eight, the have jumped from barrier one and the price on Showtime to be the next has firmed from $17 to $13.

Damien Oliver rides the in-form colt from the favourable gate looking for his first Caulfield Guineas winning ride since success aboard the Lee Freedman-trained Centro back in 1990.

The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes training trio prepared Divine Prophet (2016) to win the race 12 months ago and also had success with a half-brother to Black Caviar in All Too Hard (2012).

Co-trainer and Hall of Famer John Hawkes meanwhile also won the race in 2001 with now champion sire Lonhro (2001).

Showtime finished fifth behind the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony two back beaten under three lengths at Flemington on September 16 in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m).

He was in the winners’ stall next-up however taking out the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) by three-quarters of a length so is proven at the distance he sees again at Caulfield on the weekend.

Saturday is the youngster’s first Caulfield assignment, but the nice barrier and booking of Oliver work to his advantage as Showtime looks to complete the Stutt Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double for the first time since Whobegotyou (2008).

As mentioned, Royal Symphony remains favourite in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas odds drawn barrier nine and paying $4.20 to salute for the punters with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle.

Trainer McEvoy said winning the stallion-making Caulfield Guineas on Saturday was more important than having a horse in The Everest field, a $10 million slot-race running at Randwick for the first time on the same day.

Along with Royal Symphony, who is out to atone for a lead-up fourth in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m), the other hopes under $10 for the win are Kementari ($5.50) and the filly Catchy ($4.80).

Kementari is raced by Godolphin and jumps one outside of Royal Symphony this weekend, the son of former Caulfield Guineas winner Lonhro coming off a third in the Prelude race.

Long John (3^rd in 2013) was the last Caulfield Guineas winner to come off a Prelude run, the same form Kementari brings into the Group 1 this weekend.

Catchy meanwhile is out to be the first Caulfield Guineas winning filly in 60 years with none saluting since Surround (1976).

Prepared by Lindsay Park, the Blue Diamond Stakes winner ran third in the Thousand Guineas Prelude last time out but the stable have opted to give her the chance to atone and return to winning form over the boys on Saturday.

Catchy drew favourably in barrier three and is a three-time winner at the Caulfield track, which she is yet to finish worse than third at.

See below for the latest Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 2017 odds, following the links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au to back your favourites at the right price.

2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Odds