The headline event on the 10-race Caulfield card today is the 2010 Caulfield Cup, due to jump as Race 8 at 4:05pm (AEDST).

The $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) features a star-studded field of 18 runners, which includes three of the four original emergencies following the scratching of #8 Master O’Reilly, #14 Zabrasive, #16 Jessicabeel and #21 Drunken Sailor.

Hot favourite with money still coming in for them is #1 Shocking, last year’s Melbourne Cup winning topping the odds at $4.80 through [sportsbet].

Shocking is well positioned in a mid-field barrier, has been solid all season and has won at Group level recently on a rain-affected track at Flemington which has the Races.com.au team also getting behind the favourite to win the Caulfield Cup today.

Caulfield – Race 8 – Caulfield Cup

• Races.com.au Favourite: #1 Shocking – Rated Special to Win at $4.80 [sportsbet]
• Best Place Picks: #13 Herculian Prince, #2 Metal Bender and #6 Harris Tweed [sportsbet]

With so many top contenders, and the rain-affected Caulfield track mixing up the form, punters that want some extra value wagers should get in on the great exotic betting markets available at [sportsbet].

Caulfield Cup starters to add into a Trifecta with Shocking are #13 Herculian Prince, #2 Metal Bender and #6 Harris Tweed.

Gai Waterhouse’s Herculian Prince is also our pick if you fancy an upset win.

Having eased out to $9 the five-year-old represents stunning value having won the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick last start, a race that has produced eight of the past 12 Caulfield Cup winners.

Metal Bender is also a drifter in the markets, originally installed as the odds-on favourite now out to $9, but he is still a reliable and powerful galloper that should handle the conditions well enough to finish in the money.

Harris Tweed is the other best Place chance in the 2010 Caulfield Cup field, the Kiwi-bred runner down in the weights with just 54kg and a last start winner over 2500m at Flemington.

To check out the full 2010 Caulfield Cup betting markets and to take advantage of our tips and selections, head to [sportsbet] now and place your wagers with the online bookie that gives punters better odds and bigger payouts!