Caulfield Cup hopes go around in two races at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Caulfield Cup Carnival rolls on this weekend and the feature event, the $750,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes is a race synonymous with the Melbourne Racing Club's signature race.
Elvstroem might be the most recent of the seven horses to win both races in the same spring, a feat he achieved in 2004, but 31 times the Caulfield Cup winner has come through the Underwood, including last year's winner Without A Fight.
The Underwood Stakes was not inaugurated until 1924 meaning, on average, it produces the Caulfield Cup winner almost once every three years.
There is a strong chance it will happen again this year with Fawkner Park and Place Du Carrousel leading fancies for not only Saturday's 1800-metre event, but also the $5 million feature on October 19.
The Underwood is not Saturday's only race containing Caulfield Cup aspirants, though, and it is arguable even more is riding on the support event.
The $200,000 Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) does not have the purse or status of the Underwood Stakes, but it does carry a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption, which most of Saturday's field need to secure a start in the race limited to 18 runners.
Amade and Future History are the only runners in this year's MRC Foundation Cup not among Caulfield Cup entries with Que Tempesta (22) and Just Fine (25) the only ones who sit in the top 35 in the order of entry.
Whoever does win will be looking to become only the second horse to complete the MRC Foundation Cup/Caulfield Cup double since it became a 2000m event in 1994.
The winner has contested the Caulfield Cup on 21 occasions with Jameka (2016) the only one to win both races and runners-up Douro Valley (2007) and Nonconformist (2021) the only others to run top-five.
Fourteen of the other 18 finished in the second half of the field, 10 of whom were 13th or further back.
Tawqeet, who ran fifth in the 2006 MRC Foundation Cup, is the only Caulfield Cup winner to have been beaten the 2000m lead-up.
Last year's MRC Foundation Cup was won last year by Uncle Bryn, a $26 chance, who joined Brimham Rocks ($21), Harlem ($16) and Gris Caro ($16) as others to win at big odds in the past decade.
The Underwood Stakes honour roll is not without its roughies, most notably $101 pop Black Heart Bart, but it has been a much better race for those toward the head of the market.
Nineteen of the 24 winners this century started $8 or shorter, nine of them favourites, including three of the past four.
Pericles, a $3.30 chance on Thursday morning, will start favourite in this year's Underwood Stakes with Place Du Carrousel ($5), Buckaroo ($6) and Fawkner Park ($8.50) next in line.
