barriers
 

No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt
1 TAWQEET (USA) David Hayes D Dunn 17 57
2 BLUE MONDAY (GB) David Hayes N Rawiller 11 56
3 BLUTIGEROO Colin Little D Oliver 14 55.5
4 RAILINGS Roger James G Childs 20 55.5
5 MAYBE BETTER Brian Mayfield-Smith C Brown 8 54
6 BLACK TOM David Hayes P A Hall 16 53.5
7 PURPLE MOON (IRE) Luca Cumani K McEvoy 15 53.5
8 MALDIVIAN (NZ) Mark Kavanagh M Rodd 1 53
9 CINQUE CENTO Peter G Moody S Seamer 3 52.5
10 MANDELA (NZ) Richard Yuill D Nikolic 10 52.5
11 SCENIC SHOT Daniel Morton S Katsidis 18 52.5
12 ANNENKOV (IRE) Peter G Moody L Nolen 12 52
13 ANAMATO David Hayes R S Dye 2 51.5
14 DOURO VALLEY Danny O'Brien J M Winks 4 51.5
15 SIRMIONE Bart Cummings S Murphy 13 51.5
16 ESKIMO QUEEN (NZ) Michael Moroney C Newitt 5 51
17 PRINCESS COUP Mark Walker G Boss 19 51
18 MASTER O'REILLY (NZ) Danny O'Brien V Duric 6 50.5
19E SARRERA Michael Moroney 9 52
20E MOLOTOV David Hayes D Moor 7 51

Win Maldivian
EW Master O'Reilly Maybe Better
Place Railings Black Tom

The barriers for Purple Moon [15] and Maldivian [1] have opened this race up. It's been 64yrs since a horse won from B1 and Maldivian faces being shuffled buck into a ruck and even out the back. He'll need some serious luck in the mad race to the early turn.

The pack is going to put the speed on so as not to hand Maldivian a race to suit. Purple Moon will be ridden for luck and will need plenty from so far out and will probably be at the tail after the 1st turn .....might see Maldivian there :-))

Current market, final field
 

MALDIVIAN 2.40 1.32
ESKIMO QUEEN 8.00 2.60
DOURO VALLEY 11.00 3.28
MASTER OREILLY 11.00 3.28
MAYBE BETTER 11.00 3.28
SCENIC SHOT 14.00 3.97
ANAMATO 15.00 4.20
PRINCESS COUP 16.00 4.42
BLUTIGEROO 31.00 7.85
PURPLE MOON 31.00 7.85
MANDELA 35.00 8.77
BLUE MONDAY 41.00 10.14
TAWQEET 41.00 10.14
ANNENKOV 51.00 12.42
CINQUE CENTO 51.00 12.42
SIRMIONE 101.00 23.85
BLACK TOM 126.00 29.57
SARRERA (1E) 126.00 29.57
MOLOTOV (2E) 151.00 35.28
RAILINGS 151.00 35.28

Maldivian got everything going for it & is the one to beat.
Master O'reilly & Anamato.
Purple Moon & Cinque Cento.

the Ms have it!
 

MASTER OREILLY
MALDIVIAN
MAYBE BETTER
MANDELA

except the barrier.....

*This year, they have set the gates towards the outside running rail. Instead of the horses running straight to the first turn as is normal, this year they will all be running in at an angel as the barriers out wide will make it that much harder to get across [not good for barrier 1].
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A priceline after the barrier draw [betchoice]:
Caulfield Cup

1 TAWQEET 17 D Hayes/D Dunn 12.00
2 BLUE MONDAY 11 D Hayes/N Rawiller 8.00
3 BLUTIGEROO 14 C Little/D Oliver 12.00
4 RAILINGS 20 Roger James/G Childs 11.00
5 MAYBE BETTER 8 B. MayfieldSmith/C Brown 11.00
6 BLACK TOM 16 David Hayes/P A Hall 16.00
7 PURPLE MOON 15/ Luca Cumani/K McEvoy 16.00
8 MALDIVIAN (NZ) 1 Mark Kavanagh/M Rodd 17.00
9 CINQUE CENTO 3 P Moody/S Seamer 34.00
10 MANDELA (NZ) 11 R Yuill/D Nickolic 34.00
11 SCENIC SHOT 18 Daniel Morton/S Katsidis 41.00
12 ANNENKOV (IRE) Peter G Moody/L Nolen 41.00
13 ANAMATO 2 David Hayes/R S Dye 51.00
14 DOURO VALLEY Danny O'Brien/J M Winks 41.00
15 SIRMIONE 13 Bart Cummings/S Murphy (a) 51.00
16 ESKIMO QUEEN 5 Michael Moroney/C Newitt 101.00
17 PRINCESS COUP 19 Mark Walker/G Boss 151.00
18 MASTER O'REILLY 6 Danny O'Brien/V Duric 151.00

19E SARRERA 9 Michael Moroney/?? 151.00
20E MOLOTOV 7 David Hayes/D Moor 101.00
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I can't see Maldivian [same sire but no Might and Power] avoiding the tumble-dryer effect after the start from b1 and has to cope with the step-up distance too.

I like the smokey Mandela and Blutigeroo might grow an extra leg over this distance. What a pity Princess Coup drew b19. A great run to win the NZ "Cox".

Maldivian top jock will get him home
longshots Purple Moon & Annenkov

Colin Little says Blutigeroo is off it's feed and is poorly, doubtful to run in the Cup.