On Saturday the 2010 Melbourne Cup field and betting odds will be affected by the results of the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a number of Melbourne Cup entries will take to the Caulfield track.

Currently there are still over 70 stayers entered for the 150^th Emirates Melbourne Cup, due to run at Flemington as Race 7 on Tuesday November 2.

A number of these hopefuls will contest the 2010 Caulfield Cup as they head towards the $6 million Melbourne Cup, and how they perform in this earlier spring handicap feature will have a big impact on their chances of winning the Melbourne Cup.

Every horse in the 18-starter field for the Caulfield Cup are still in Melbourne Cup contention, making for a very competitive showdown.

Early favourites in the Melbourne Cup betting markets that will run in the Caulfield Cup include Shocking, Alcopop, Dariana, Faint Perfume, Herculian Prince and Manighar.

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Shocking is second favourite to make it back-to-back success, currently paying $9 behind $5 favourite So You Think through [sportsbet].

Shocking is at the top of the Melbourne Cup order of entry in second spot behind Sans Frontieres who has since been ruled out.

A win in the Caulfield Cup will likely see Shocking regain his spot at the top of the betting markets for the Melbourne Cup.

One of the top fancies to win the Caulfield Cup after an ideal barrier two draw is the Chris Waller-trained Metal Bender.

Metal Bender is yet to pass the first elimination clause for the Melbourne Cup, but as the Caulfield Cup winner gains a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption the five-year-old Danasinga gelding is well-positioned to secure a Melbourne Cup start.

Other runners well down the Melbourne Cup order of entry for the 24-horse field that are seeking the ballot exemption via a win in the Caulfield Cup include Alcopop (30^th) and Herculian Prince (29^th).

The Jake Stephens-trained Alcopop ran an impressive second to So You Think last Saturday in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes and moved right up the Caulfield Cup betting.

However, the gelding suffered a major blow today drawing the far outside barrier in the 2010 Caulfield Cup Barriers making his mission on Saturday that much harder.

Gai Waterhouse’s Herculian Prince, on the other hand, has drawn ideally in barrier six for the Caulfield Cup.

Currently rated at $21 chance in the Melbourne Cup through Sportsbet, a top three finish in the Caulfield on Saturday will see the Group 1 The Metropolitan winner shorten dramatically.

To get in on the generous early odds available in the Melbourne Cup betting markets now before prices are slashed after the Caulfield Cup result on Saturday, sign up with [sportsbet] today!