Update: Favourite Lucia Valentina has fared fairly in the 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw and will jump from barrier ten once the emergencies are removed from the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.

Japanese stayer Bande was one of the big winners from the barrier draw and should be able to take up the running without much of a problem when he jumps from barrier eight, while the connections of Admire Rakti (barrier eight), Green Moon (barrier six), Lidari (barrier four) and Stipulate (barrier five) were also happy with their Caulfield Cup barrier draws.

Dandino is set to jump from the outside barrier after being allocated barrier 22, while Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer, Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance and Lloyd Williams-owned Sea Moon will also need plenty of lucky after drawing wide gates.

For a rundown on how everybody fared at the 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw head to our full results.

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The 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw will be conducted at Crown Casino at 5.45 (AEDT) this afternoon and connections of a number of leading chances are sweating on drawing a good gate in the Group 1 event at Caulfield this weekend.

Trainer Chris Waller is hoping that Hawkspur has some luck at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Lucia Valentina is currently a clear favourite in Caulfield Cup betting markets and her price could be even shorter if she fares well in the barrier draw tonight.

The Savabeel mare drew ideally in barrier five when she recorded an impressive win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4 and trainer Kris Lees is hoping that his star galloper has the same luck at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw.

“Hopefully, as with the Turnbull, we can get a nice draw,” Lees told Racing And Sports.

“Caulfield Cups are never easy to win and a good barrier is definitely crucial.”

Bande is currently on the second line of Caulfield Cup betting markets, but the Japanese stayer could be a big drifter in betting for the $3 million race if he draws an outside gate due to his front-running style.

Only two horses in the last 15 years have led all the way to win the Caulfield Cup, Might And Power in 1997 and Mummify in 2003, and Bande’s task will be made even more difficult if he draws wide and is forced to do plenty of work in the early stages of the race.

Hawkspur started the 2013 Caulfield Cup as favourite, but he could finish no better than seventh after jockey Jim Cassidy was forced to settle the Purrealist gelding at the tail of the field following an awkward barrier draw.

The performance of Hawkspur in last year’ s Caulfield Cup has led to doubts over whether he can run out a strong 2400 metres in open company, but trainer Chris Waller believes that the 2013 Queensland Derby winner, as well as stablemate Moriarty, deserve another chance in the race and feels both would be aided by an inside barrier draw.

“We went back and watched the replay of last year and both Moriarty and Hawkspur were last turning for home and they both came within about three lengths of the winner,” Waller said

“I think they both deserve another chance.”

Dandino was another horse that was disadvantaged by a wide draw in the 2013 Caulfield Cup and was forced to cover plenty of ground before running home strongly to finish second behind Fawkner.

Managing co-owner Darren Dance is taking a philosophical approach to the 2014 Caulfield Cup barrier draw, but is still hoping that his two runners in the race can draw a gate between four and ten.

“He hasn’t put a foot wrong since he has been here and all his gallops have been good and his action has been terrific,” Dance told Racing Ahead this morning.

“He has done everything right and all we want now is a decent barrier draw and a bit of luck.

“What will be will be, we can’t control that bit and we will just have to wait and see.”

While the majority of connections of runners in the 2014 Caulfield Cup field are hoping for an inside draw, the history of the Group 1 event suggests that horses can overcome a wide gate and win the race.

In 2012 Dunaden drew the very outside barrier, but was still able to storm down the outside of the field and record an impressive victory, while tough Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding Descarado (barrier 15 in 2010), Melbourne Cup winner Viewed (barrier 13 in 2009), brave front-runner Mummify (barrier 13), Bart Cummings-trained Let’s Elope (barrier 17 in 1991) and Lord Reims (barrier 18 in 1987) have all been able to win from poor barrier draws.

Barrier nine has been the most successful Caulfield Cup barrier in the past 30 years, but no horse has won from barriers one, eight, 12 or 14 in that timeframe.