No. 15 Half Yours

Favourite has drawn well (2) and looks primed to peak third-up. Was huge stamping his tick with a commanding Group 3 Naturalism Stakes win two starts back here at Caulfield. He then flashed home for a  brave fourth to Sir Delius in the Group 1 Turnbull against elite company. Stable confidence is high. Heads the market for good reason. With a 3.5kg weight drop and a step up to 2400m, he’s perfectly placed, and with even luck in running, he’ll be right in the finish.

No. 4 Meydaan

Has impressed in trackwork and brings strong overseas form. Peaking at the right time, maps well and market support make him a live chance. A progressive five-year-old from the Crisford stable, the same team behind West Wind Blows and Without A Fight, arrives with upside and international credentials. He’s taken time to hit his stride, but his latest run at Kempton was a breakout performance, finishing just behind two proven Group 1 stayers who later placed in the top 10 of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the pinnacle of global staying contests. With a favourable draw and momentum on his side, he profiles as a serious winning chance.

No. 2 Presage Nocturne

Northern Hemisphere visitor is the unknown quantity; he’s classy but untested on Australian soil. Brings French flair and proven stamina, he shapes up as the dark horse with the ability to surprise. Second-up and fresh off a 55-day break, his Euro form is solid. Kicked off with a close third at Deauville in the Group 2 Kergorlay, just a long neck off Double Major while lugging 59kg. Last prep, he also ran third second-up in the Group 1 Vtesse Vigier at Longchamp over 3100m. While November 4 and 3200m calls, this isn’t out of his reach as a warmup.

• Top 2 – No. 15 Half Yours
• Top 3 – No. 4 Meydaan 
• Top 4 – No. 2 Presage Nocturne 

HALF YOURS (2) looks the real deal for the Caulfield Cup and I’m happy to be with him leading the markets to run top two. The $2.90 favourite has drawn perfectly in gate two, gets in light with just 52.5kg, and Jamie Melham sticks after steering him to a dominant 3.5-length win in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes here last month. He was strong late behind Melbourne Cup fancy Sir Delius in the Turnbull and now steps up to 2400m — a trip he smashed in the Caloundra Cup over winter. The Naturalism–Caulfield Cup double hasn’t been done since Jameka in 2016, and favourites don’t always win this, but he maps beautifully and brings the right form. I’m backing him to get it done or at least go very close.

MEYDAAN (5) appeals if you’re chasing value. The UK raider looks a serious threat to the locals and could easily hand Simon & Ed Crisford a Caulfield Cup trophy. The stable knows the terrain — they brought West Wind Blows for second in 2023 and campaigned Without A Fight who went on to do the Cups double after transferring to the Freedmans — and this lightly raced son of Frankel has been trending the right way. He hit a career peak last start in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton, finishing just behind two Group 1 stayers who ran 4th and 7th in the Arc, which is elite form. He carried 60.5kg there and was only two lengths off Giavellotto, so dropping to 56kg here is a big plus. With Andrea Atzeni aboard and a good draw to work from, he’s well set up and proven over similar trips — definitely worth an Each Way play.

PRESAGE NOCTURNE (8) at the price looks overs and gives off serious Americain vibes, so I’m happy to have an Each Way nibble on the flashy French grey. Trained by Alessandro Botti and ridden by regular hoop Stephane Pasquier, he’s a proven stayer with wins up to 3000m and two runner-up efforts over the mile and a half. He arrives off a narrow defeat in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay — a race that’s historically stacked up well in Aussie spring features — and the 57.5kg second topweight shouldn’t faze him. He’s fit off a 55-day let-up, maps to settle midfield, and with pedigree, class, and form lines all ticking boxes, he’s a genuine top-three chance.