(Rod Gallegos is a leading commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

In the dim dark past of my youth, the Caulfield Cup indisputably was the second-best staying race in Australia but, sadly, it now is being overshadowed by the Cox Plate.

To me, and probably to the chagrin of many purists, this is rather vexing and I pose the question: Is the Cox Plate more shadow than substance?

Hyperbole and hype have hoisted its stature, in my opinion, above its station. It's a visibly spectacular sight on a tight-turning racing circuit amid the intimate surrounds of Moonee Valley. But that hardly qualifies the Cox Plate as a genuine test for stayers because good milers (1600-metre horses) are able to win.

For instance, on a bigger track, would the riders of Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star been able to get away with the tearaway, devil-may-care tactics of 1986?

The Caulfield Cup is entitled to more respect and prestige on the racing calendar. It is a true staying test under handicap conditions and a perfect prelude to our greatest race, the Melbourne Cup.

The Cox Plate, on the other hand, may be an exciting spectacle but thoroughbred theatre is an inferior substitute for the tough-testing of the thoroughbred over a true stayers' course.

Having said all of that, even the highly-publicised and loudly lauded Cox Plate is not invulnerable.

As John Bary, the Kiwi trainer of highly-rated Cox Plate candidate Jimmy Choux remarked, that this year the weight-for-age extravaganza would struggle to retain its race-of-the-day status.

He was, of course, referring to Black Caviar's appearance in the Moir Stakes. Although she won't be a betting proposition, the public attention, on and off-course, will be firmly focused on the expected extension of her staggering unbeaten statistic to 15 wins.

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IT'S that time of the year when punters need a big heart and a bigger wallet because there are 10 races at Caulfield this weekend and similar mammoth programmes set down for Cox Plate, Derby Day and Cup Day. And, let's not forget, Oaks Day and Emirates Stakes Day could have capacity fields and races to finish off the Spring Carnival.

As for this week's Caulfield Cup, the pre-post favourite December Draw may have won his past three starts but he does appear to be under the odds. Particularly when you ponder that he hasn't won beyond 2010 metres.

Two long-shots appeal to me - Shootoff and Manighar.

Shootoff was the winner of the 2400 metre Queensland Derby in the winter and, at his third run back from a spell, turned in a solid effort when runner-up to My Kingdom of Fife in the 2000-metre Craven Plate at Randwick.

Considering My Kingdom of Fife was one of the favourites for the Cox Plate until suffering a campaign-ending injury that form reads well.

Manighar finished a good fifth in the Caulfield Cup last year and his recent form in England has been promising.

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IN the Caulfield Sprint, a handicap race, Sepoy looks an absolute certainty because he was so impressive in the Moonee Valley Manikato Stakes at his latest start.

However, you may be entitled to be a bit wary of Buffering which finished fourth to Sepoy in the that event.

This time, Buffering actually meets Sepoy four kilograms better.

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THERE also is a helpful handicapping hint that Sister Madly may be a serious challenger for highly-rated More Joyous in the 1400-metre Tristarc Stakes.

In the Manikato Stakes, Sister Madly finished a game second to Sepoy, while More Joyous, first-up from a spell, finished third.

From the weight-for-age conditions of that race, to the Caulfield event which is set-weights with penalties, Sister Madly meets More Joyous a kilo better.