Caulfield Cup 2026 Tips - The European Challenge

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 14 Oct 2026 10:46

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Three European horses—Wine Dark Sea, Enfjaar, and Starford—will contest the Caulfield Cup
Enfjaar is tipped as the top contender due to ideal draw and recent strong form
Wine Dark Sea has improving credentials, while Starford faces tough conditions

Hector Crouch riding Wine Dark Sea win The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury. (Getty)

While the eyes of the racing world will be fixed on Randwick, where Ka Ying Rising will attempt to defend his Everest crown, Caulfield stages another excellent renewal of the valuable Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

Three European raiders have been confirmed in the field, and all three hold Melbourne Cup entries. Here's our verdict on the trio of international challengers.

Wine Dark Sea

Wine Dark Sea has enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence over the past 12 months. Harry Charlton's gelding was rated just 75 when he finished second to Yabher in last season's Old Rowley Cup, but will now make his Australian debut on Saturday with a fresh rating of 113.

Charlton's four-year-old won nicely from the front on his return at Ascot before trouncing some mediocre rivals in another handicap at Carlisle. Following a slightly flat performance in the Betway Trophy at Newmarket, Wine Dark Sea bounced back with a career-best showing in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, fending off Tabletalk and clocking a fast time in the process.

The turning track at Caulfield will suit Wine Dark Sea well, as will the fast ground conditions in Australia. Connections are eyeing up a tilt at the Melbourne Cup, and I fancy that two-mile contest would suit him better than Saturday's test over 1m4f. However, the gelding is a horse on the up and seems more than capable of contending in both races.

Enfjaar

Enfjaar boasts a similar profile to former stablemate Without A Fight, who won both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in 2023.

Whereas Without A Fight was at his best over 1m6f, Enfjaar has raced mainly over ten furlongs during his career. Roger Varian upped his six-year-old to a mile and a half for the first time at Glorious Goodwood, and Ray Dawson's mount responded with a huge career-best performance, making all to beat favourite Opportunity and multiple Group Two winner Al Aasy.

Dawson travels over to Australia to take the ride at Caulfield, and he'll be pleased with their low draw in stall one, given that five of the last six Caulfield Cup winners were drawn in stall eight or lower. The Melbourne Cup trip might prove a bit of a stretch for Enfjaar, but Saturday's conditions look to be ideal. I fancy he will outrun his current double-figure odds.

Starford

Joseph O'Brien may be mob-handed when it comes to the Melbourne Cup, but he's opted to run just one of his shippers in Saturday's main event at Caulfield.

Starford claimed Group Three honours at the Curragh earlier this season before taking his chance in the Huxley Stakes at Chester. Dylan Browne McMonagle's mount was beaten four lengths by Lambourn that day and struggled a little on his most recent outing at Roscommon too, labouring home six lengths adrift of Bosphorus Rose despite being backed into 10/11 before the off.

All of Starford's best form has come on very soft ground, and he's yet to win over the Caulfield Cup trip. O'Brien's raider has been drawn out in stall 15 too. It's hard to see him pulling up any trees.

Verdict

Caulfield Cup

Caulfield Cup Tips:

Enfjaar

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