Sweating on a scratching from Saturday’s Caulfield Cup field to gain a start as the first emergency, the Peter Moody-trained Brambles has also been accepted as a back-up in the David Jones Cup 2014 on the weekend.

2014 Caulfield Cup first emergency Brambles will run in Saturday’s David Jones Cup if he misses out on a run in the Group 1. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Winner of the 2012 Queensland Derby, the now six-year-old son of Savabeel spent nearly two years sidelined after that Group 1 win due to an ongoing tendon injury.

He’s been back in top form this season however including a Flemington win two back carrying a hefty 60kg before finishing just over half a length away third behind the now Caulfield Cup favourite Lucia Valentina and his stable mate Lidari in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

That was a great effort at weight-for-age and one connections were hoping to back-up on in the $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday.

Brambles, allocated just 53.5kg for the Caulfield Cup, however missed out on a guaranteed start in the classic and so is the first of four emergencies for Saturday’s major.

If he doesn’t gain a run then it will be the $150,000 Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) for Brambles where he will carry the 58.5kg top weight from barrier five with Luke Nolen aboard.

The David Jones Cup field features 13 gallopers this year, the next three heaviest weighted all on 57kg with Contributer, Honorius and Slow Pace.

The John O’Shea-trained Contributer is first-up here in his Australian debut, the imported High Chaparral stallion last see winning the Listed Wolferton Handicap (2000m) at Ascot in June which was his second stakes win from three starts over the distance he races over on the weekend.

Honorius for David Payne has a wide barrier 10 draw for the David Jones Cup, the Holy Roman Emperor five-year-old dropping right back in class after a brave fifth when beaten under two lengths by He’s Your Man in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney on October 4.

Slow Pace meanwhile is another import coming off some promising spring form, the seven-year-old having run fourth to one of Chris Waller’s four 2014 Caulfield Cup hopes Moriarty in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.

Another last start Group 1 performer to appreciate an easier assignment on Saturday is then the Brian Smith-trained Brisbane visitor Kingdoms.

The High Chaparral gelding debuts at Caulfield on the back of a fourth behind another Waller-trained Caulfield Cup fancy Junoob in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) from October 4.

Waller meanwhile is also represented in the David Jones Cup field by Vilanova (barrier two) with Craig Newitt riding the last start Craven Plate third placegetter.

Commands four-year-old Vilanova is also Group 1 performed when third to Sonntag in this year’s Queensland Derby over the mile and a half in early June.

Also coming off nice lead-up form are the likes of Herbert Power Stakes runner-up Signoff and the only last start winner in the race Commanding Time with the rails run from barrier one with Damien Oliver booked for the ride on the Benalla Cup winner.

See below for the full David Jones Cup 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and weights.

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2014 David Jones Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 7 (4:20pm) – 18/10/2014