WINNING the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double in the same year is no easy feat, in fact, it's only been done on 11 occasions.
Every runner in the 2015 Caulfield Cup has a chance to etch their name in history, but can any of them replicate what some of Australasia's best thoroughbreds have been able to do?
We look through the past Cup's double winners and see if Saturday's entrants have any similarities to the past champions of the track.
If you believe this year's Caulfield Cup winner could take out the coveted double, take a look at all the specials on that market at CrownBet.com.au today!
For a full runner-by-runner guide to the 2015 Caulfield Cup with tips, form and free bonus bet offers, just click right here.
1939 – Rivette
Rivette was the first mare to win the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double which came back in 1939.
The Harry Bamber-trained daughter of Ronsard was heralded as a “little battler” and a horse that made good of every unlikely situation it faced.
Winning both Cups is certainly a tough ask, especially for a smaller-framed horse and the story behind this great battler is one for the history books.
Harry Bamber was a victim of the depression, but he persisted through it and was able to purchase the stallion Ronsard, which later produced Rivette.
How did Bamber get enough to buy a stallion? He placed a two-pound bet on Peter Pan to win the Mackinnon Stakes followed by the Melbourne Cup which netted a handy profit for Bamber, but Rivette's career didn't start off with a bang like Bamber had hoped.
It didn't race as a two-year-old and it won only twice from 11 starts at three. Bamber believed it had staying potential so he placed a five-pound wager that Rivette would win the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double, which would have netted him 15,000 pounds.
The dream would end on that occasion, however, as Rivette suffered a gashed hoof in preparation. Bamber and Rivette pushed through their problems and eventually returned to the track by winning or placing in its next eight starts.
Rivette won the 1939 Caulfield Cup with ease and it eventually started favourite in the Melbourne Cup. It won it easily and Bamber later said that Rivette “set me up for life”.
A horse that reminds us of Rivette in this years Caulfield Cup is Royal Descent. The Chris Waller-trained mare isn't the biggest runner in the field and it's one of the most consistent horses running in Australia.
It is currently paying $21 at CrownBet.com.au which should shorten as the punters will rally around the six-year-old by Redoute's Choice.
1954 – Rising Fast
Rising Fast was a New Zealand-bred and trained thoroughbred which took Australia by storm in 1954.
The son of Alonzo became the first and only horse to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year – known as the Spring Grand Slam.
Not only did it complete the treble in 1954, but it returned in 1955 by won the Caulfield Cup and finishing an unlucky second in the Melbourne Cup.
Rising Fast had established itself as a quality runner in New Zealand and it arrived in Australia as a five-year-old and never looked back.
It won races such as the Caulfield Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Memsie Stakes. All-in-all, Rising Fast won 24 races from 68 starts and it earned $133,530 in its career.
Rising Fast is one of few horses to be inducted in both the New Zealand and Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Whilst there are no comparisons to Rising Fast in the 2015 Caulfield Cup, Mongolian Khan is the closest horse to it.
The New Zealand runner is the current favourite at $4.20 and many believe it could push for a Grand Slam bid if it is victorious this Saturday.
Mongolian Khan has all the fighting credentials of a champion and the ATC Derby winner could be the next staying superstar.
1991 – Let's Elope
Let's Elope is yet another New Zealander to complete the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double, but that credit falls to the late Bart Cummings who trained Let's Elope once it transferred from New Zealand to Australia.
It became the first horse since Rivette to complete the Cups double and it was purchased for only $16,000 at the New Zealand Magic Millions sale.
Let's Elope kicked off its career for Bart Cummings with two placings before failing to fire on rain-affected ground at Caulfield, but that ignited a seven-race winning streak that resulted in the Cups double.
In 1991, Let's Elope won the Turnbull Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup. It didn't stop there as it returned in 1992 to win the Australian Cup among other big-name races.
A fetlock injury and a bleeding attack forced Let's Elope to race in the U.S where it won a Grade 1 race before being relegated for interference.
Another bleeding attack and a fractured cannon bone forced it to retire in 1993.
Let's Elope won just under $3 million in stake money and the title of Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 1992.
Let's Elope was a dry tracker and Set Square is its closest comparison. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare is of similar build and it has won all three starts on a dry surface.
At only four years old, Set Square has many miles left in it and it could win the 2015 Caulfield Cup with some luck from barrier 16.
1997 – Might and Power
Might and Power is a New Zealand-bred, Australian raced champion which captivated racegoers with its front-running style.
The gelding by Zabeel in its silver and pink silks couldn't be missed during the run, as it went straight to the front and produced great sectionals.
The strong, front-running style made it a cult hero in Australia and in 1997 it was able to complete the Cups double in emphatic fashion.
It won the 1997 Caulfield Cup by 7.5 lengths and it broke the Caulfield course record in the process. 1995 winner Doriemus finished in second place which shows the quality of the win.
Might and Power was a short priced favourite for the Cox Plate, but trainer Jack Denham – who also had Filante entered in the Cox Plate, decided to bypass the Moonee Valley feature in an effort to win the Melbourne Cup.
Might and Power would go on to win the Melbourne Cup by carrying a weight record by a four-year-old of 56kg. It was the highest weight carried by a four-year-old since Gurner's Lane in 1982.
The finish was made more dramatic as Doriemus' jockey Greg Hall saluted as if his runner had won the Cup, but Might and Power lived up to its name and held on narrowly.
In its career, Might and Power won a total of 15 races and more than $5 million in stake money. It won Australian Horse of the Year on two occasions and has since been inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame.
We looked for an obvious front runner for this year's Caulfield Cup, but we couldn't find a standout. There will most likely be a tearaway leader, but based on form there are no horses that will repeat the feat of Might and Power.
Rising Romance might take the front running role from barrier two at odds of $11 with CrownBet.com.au.
2001 – Ethereal
The Sheila Laxon-trained Ethereal was the last horse to complete the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double.
The Rhythm mare won a total of five Group 1's throughout its limited career which was cut short at 21 runs. It had won the Group 1 Doomben Roses and Queensland Oaks in 2001, before embarking on a spring campaign which will go down in history.
It won the Caulfield Cup by defeating Sky Heights and Celestial Show with Scott Seamer in the saddle. It followed that win up with a dramatic come-from-behind victory to beat the Godolphin-owned Give The Slip after it had stolen a big lead in the straight.
Ethereal's champion qualities came into question, but it flew home late to score the biggest win of its life. Many experts have questioned the level of opposition it faced in the 2001 Melbourne Cup, but it can only beat what's in front of it.
It was named Champion Stayer of the Year in 2002, but it was beaten in the New Zealand and Australian Horse of the Year race by Sunline.
Ethereal reminds us of four-year-old mare Gust of Wind. A horse that probably won't win many races in its career, but it could well win the ones that count.
Gust of Wind is trained by New Zealand trainer John Sargent and it represents good value at $17.
