Updated Caulfield Cup 2015 odds are now out at bookies around the country following the release of a capacity 18-starter field for the mile and a half classic running this Saturday in Melbourne with Kiwi visitor Mongolian Khan leading the markets.

ATC Derby winning New Zealand galloper Mongolian Khan is favourite in early 2015 Caulfield Cup odds for this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Steve Hart.

Prepared by Murray Baker in New Zealand, Holy Roman Emperor stallion Mongolian Khan is already an elite level winner over the 2400m in Australia having won the Group 1 ATC Derby over the distance in Sydney during the autumn.

The now four-year-old is back down under for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and Saturday’s run in the $3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) is his fourth run this time in.

On the improve, the $1.9 million earner comes off an excellent third to Criterion in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at the track when defeated 0.6 length just last Saturday, and now on the short turnaround he’s the favourite in Caulfield Cup betting.

He currently pays $4.80 through Ladbrokes.com.au, who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on all Caulfield Cup Day races this spring, to relish the step up in distance and down in weights from 58kg last Saturday to 55kg this weekend – a weight last carried to a Caulfield Cup victory only two years ago with Fawkner (2013).

The past three Caulfield Cup winners, including Fawkner ($10), have all saluted at double figures.

Out to buck the trend in 2015 along with Mongolian Khan are three other single figure hopes with the John O’Shea-trained market mover Hauraki ($10 into $8.50), Japan’s Melbourne Cup-bound Fame Game ($8.50) and the best fancied of the five mares in the line-up Set Square ($9).

Prepared by John O’Shea for the Godolphin stable, Reset gelding Hauraki comes off a close second to Complacent in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick in Sydney a fortnight ago and has first Melbourne run on the weekend since a failed 12^th when dead last behind Wandjina in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m) at Flemington back in February.

He has had one previous look at the 240m though when runner-up to Mongolian Khan in the ATC Derby in early April, form the bookmakers are tipping to stack up in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

Hauraki also benefits from the drop back from 58kg in the Craven Plate to his 53kg on Saturday, Mummify (2003) the last Caulfield Cup winner to carry that weight to victory.

Fame Game also leads the all-in Melbourne Cup markets for the world’s richest handicap on the first Tuesday of November over the two miles, and is looking to secure successive Caulfield Cup wins for Japan following the success of the ill-fated Admire Rakti 12 months ago.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup winning hoop Zac Purton has the mount on the Heart’s Cry six-year-old who was last seen running second to star Japanese galloper Gold Ship in the Groups 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) back in May, Fame Game yet to win first-up from six previous attempts.

Ciaron Maher’s Reset four-year-old Set Square carries only 51kg and is ridden by 2008 (All The Good) Caulfield Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy this weekend as the locally-trained mare looks to improve by two on the third she ran in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago.

Southern Speed (2011) is the last Caulfield Cup winning mare on the books, Set Square out to be the next as well as the fifth Caulfield Cup champ in seven years to graduate from the Turnbull.

The next best in Caulfield Cup betting are Japan’s other runner Hokko Brave ($11), last year’s runner-up Rising Romance ($13), the Lee & Anthony Freeman-trained former German galloper Our Ivanhowe ($15) and the Chris Waller-trained Turnbull second placed Oaks winning mare Royal Descent ($16).

The Caulfield Cup 2015 barrier draw is conducted late on Tuesday afternoon, updates to the markets to follow so stay tuned at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering an Extra 50% on your very first Fixed Odds winning on Races 1 – 5 at Caulfield this Saturday!