The first of Melbourne's big three races will take place this spring, with the annual $5 million Caulfield Cup set to be run on Saturday 15th October.
Benaud and Noncomformist are near the top of the market, but it is Smokin Romans that is now the outright favourite in an open field.
Last year, Incentivise took out the race, but the Peter Moody-trained gelding won't compete in the 2022 spring carnival.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 Cox Plate.
WHEN IS THE 2022 CAULFIELD CUP?
The Caulfield Cup is traditionally held on the third Saturday in October at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse.
This year, it will take place on October 15th - the same day as The Everest in Sydney.
Historically the ninth of 10 races at the meeting, the Caulfield Cup will kick off at 5:15pm AEDT.
The Caulfield Cup is one of the oldest horse races in Australia, having first taken place in 1879.
WHAT IS THE PRIZE MONEY FOR THE CAULFIELD CUP?
The prize money for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup is a share of $5 million, making it one of the richest races in the world at its distance (2400m) or above.
HOW TO WATCH THE 2022 CAULFIELD CUP?
The 2022 Caulfield Cup will be broadcast nationally on Channel 7.
Sky Racing will also broadcast the big race, given its extensive history of showing the Spring Carnival's major races.
WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE CAULFIELD CUP RUN UNDER?
The Caulfield Cup is a handicap race run over 2400m and is a Group 1 race.
In 2017 Racing Victoria announced a change in policy around re-handicapping the winner of the Caulfield Cup into the Melbourne Cup.
The winning horse will no longer be re-handicapped for the Melbourne Cup if they have already been allotted a weight of 56kg or more. Additionally, the Caulfield Cup winner will not be handicapped to carry more than 56kg in the Melbourne Cup.
In an effort to promote local horses, the number of races that gain automatic entry for overseas horses to the Caulfield Cup has been halved from 18 to nine.
CAULFIELD CUP 2022 FINAL FIELD, BARRIERS AND BETTING ODDS
The final field and barriers for the Caulfield Cup are officially set, with 18 runners to compete over the 2400m trip. Two emergency runners have been included among the final field.
Smokin Romans sits atop the market, ahead of Knights Order, Benaud and Noncomformist in a rather open field.
Odds courtesy of TAB, last updated 8:30am AEDT, October 15.
| RUNNER (BARRIER) | JOCKEY | TRAINER | ODDS |
| 1. Gold Trip (11) | Mark Zahra | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $14 |
| 2. Duais (8) | Josh Parr | Edward Cummings | $18 |
| 3. Knights Order (17) | Tim Clark | G.Waterhouse/A.Bott | $7 |
| 4. Montefilia (15) | Jason Collett | David Payne | $18 |
| 5. Numerian (9) | Tommy Berry | Annabel Neasham | $13 |
| 6. Noncomformist (14) | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | $11 |
| 7. Vow And Declare (16) | Blake Shinn | Danny O'Brien | $34 |
| 8. No Compromise (12) | Craig Newitt | Chris Waller | $19 |
| 9. Alegron (13) | Ethan Brown | James Cummings | $12 |
| 10. Benaud (28) | Regan Bayliss | John O'Shea | $10 |
| 11. Great House (3) | Brett Prebble | Chris Waller | $26 |
| 12. Inspirational Girl (1) | Jye McNeil | Danny O'Brien | $18 |
| 14. Sound (4) | Blaike McDougall | Michael Moroney | $151 |
| 15. Chapada (10) | Daniel Stackhouse | Michael Moroney | $61 |
| 16. Crystal Pegasus (2) | Damien Thornton | Chris Waller | $151 |
| 17. Smokin Romans (5) | Jamie Kah | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $3.80 |
| 18. Tralee Rose (7) | Dean Yendall | Symon Wilde | $81 |
| 19. Durston (6) | Michael Dee | Chris Waller | $23 |
