The action of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival steps up a notch today, Saturday October 17, with the first of the ‘Big 3’ events taking place for Caulfield Cup Day 2020 and below we take a look at the latest scratchings and track report ahead of the first.

The injured Aktau is the only withdrawal from the starting line-up in the 2020 Caulfield Cup field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Caulfield Track Report – 17/10/2020

• Melbourne Racing Club
• Rail: True Entire Circuit
• Weather: Overcast
• Dual Track Meeting: N
• Track Type: Turf
• Track Rating: Soft (6)
• General Comment: Finalised 17/10 – 7:45am
• Irrigation: nil last 24 hours, 25mm last 7 days
• Rainfall: 13.2mm last 24 hours, 15.3mm last 7 days
• Track Information: Inspection 6AM 17/10; Going stick is 8.0, shear is 8.8.

The weather trackside at the Melbourne meeting today is for scattered showers throughout the morning and into the afternoon meaning there is unlikely to be any upgrade to the current Soft (6) Caulfield track rating.

Caulfield racing kicks off just after midday at 12:15pm (AEDT) with the bumper 10-race Caulfield Cup Day card continuing through until the Empire Rose Stakes-bound mares do battle in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at 5:50pm (AEDT) where #7 Benitoite is the sole scratching.

The first of the Group races on the program is Race 4 at 2:00pm (AEDT) with the VRC Derby types running in the Group 3 Neds Classic (2000m) – #4 Johnny Get Angry (2) and #13 Token Spirit (3) out of the line-up.

The fillies are next-up in Race 5 at 2:35pm (AEDT) with the VRC Oaks lead-up, the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) where all 16 original acceptors are still in play including the co-favourites Starelle and Silhouette at $4.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

A potential VRC Sprint Classic preview is in play for Race 7 with eight runners in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint led by the flying Alfa Oro ($2.25 @ Ladbrokes.com.au), while Race 8 has 11 remaining in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes field after the scratching of the Godolphin-raced Munitions (6).

The meeting’s marquee race and the one the punters are waiting for is Race 9 with the 2020 Caulfield Cup kicking off at 5:15pm (AEDT).

The $5 million mile and a half classic features a stellar field of stayers with only the injured #16 Aktau (1) coming out of the starting line-up.

Chris Waller’s class mare Verry Elleegant ($5 at Ladbrokes.com.au) is the clear favourite in Caulfield Cup betting, with the dangers shaping-up as Aidan O’Brien’s Irish-trained top weight Anthony Van Dyck ($7) and the well-weighted Master Of Wine ($7.50) for Hawkes Racing.

See below for the official Caulfield Cup Day race scratchings and jump times before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the best Saturday racing odds and offers.

Caulfield Scratchings – 17/10/2020

• Total Scratchings: 11

Race 1 (12:15pm) – $125,000 ZircoDATA Handicap (1700m)

• No current scratchings

Race 2 (12:50pm) – $135,000 QMS Media Plate (1400m)

• #4 Anitra (7)
• #9 Joey’s Gift (9)

Race 3 (1:25pm) – Listed $175,000 Polytrack Gothic Stakes (1400m)

• No current scratchings

Race 4 (2:00pm) – Group 3 $250,000 Neds Classic (2000m)

• #4 Johnny Get Angry (2)
• #13 Token Spirit (3)

Race 5 (2:35pm) – Group 3 $200,000 Lexus Ethereal Stakes (2000m)

• No current scratchings

Race 6 (3:10pm) – Listed $175,000 Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes (1100m)

• #8 Score (4)

Race 7 (3:45pm) – Group 2 $300,000 McCafe Caulfield Sprint (1000m)

No current scratchings

Race 8 (4:30pm) – Group 3 $200,000 Neds Moonga Stakes (1400m)

• #12 Munitions (6)

Race 9 (5:15pm) – Group 1 $5,000,000 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m)

• #16 Aktau (1)
• #20e San Huberto (10)
• #21e Oceanex (8)
• #22e Le Don De Vie (13)

Race 10 (5:5pm) – Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (1400m)

• #7 Benitoite (1)

*All times quoted are local Melbourne time (AEDT) and subject to change.