Caulfield Cup betting open for business

The build-up to next Saturday's Caulfield Cup has begun in earnest even before the dust of the Guineas has had time to settle.

Online bookmakers have placed Speed Gifted as the favourite to win the next major group 1 race of the season, with Centrebet offering 5.00 for the Metropolitan winner.

Other European imports are also gearing up for the $2.5 million race, including Kirklees and Cima De Triomphe.

The latter has had his work stepped up over the past few days and underwent heavy exercise for the first time since touching down in Australia late last month.

Tommy Strang, of Godolphin, has also said Kirklees has been doing well in the run-up to next Saturday, bettering stable mate Crime Scene in recent run-outs.

Quoted by Racingbase, Strang said of the pair: "They did just what was asked of them," and also said it was not yet certain as of last Thursday who would partner Kirklees, though since then Kerrin McEvoy has been strongly touted.

Kirklees is currently on odds of 11.00 with Centrebet, while Cima de Triomphe stands on 10.00 with the same bookmaker.

Two other horses are at the 11.00 mark; Daffodil and Maldivian, while the second favourite is Predatory Pricer on 7.00, and Vigor is on 8.00.