The autumn (late summer) carnival in Melbourne is probably seen as spring's poor cousin off the track but, on the track, it's a match and it starts with an (yep I'm going to do it...) Orr-some card of racing at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Orr itself holds right up with winners of the Toorak, Doncaster, Stradbroke and Railway all engaged - the best handicaps from right around the land - as well as two Rupert Clarke winners at the course and distance. 

There must be something special about the Caulfield 1400m as it hosts more open Group Ones than seemingly any course in the world... And that suits Behemoth just fine as one of those two Rupert Clarke winners, and one who has also won a pair of Memsies there. 

Given that, and despite a return that was a shade below expectations, he is probably the one to win the tag; 'the horse to beat'. The fresh run came in a race that was slowly run to the point of farcical and his late splits were probably about as fast as he can go. He will be far better suited by a more genuine contest than that but, as mentioned, this is a deep contest and others make at least as much betting appeal 

One that looks over the odds in the early markets, and finds himself with the honour of being our each-way play, is the Doncaster winner, Cascadian.

He was as good as ever at the back of the spring, just missing in the Cantala and doing best of the rest behind Zaaki in the Mackinnon. 

He draws barrier one which allows him to play for all the marbles. Take the cheap run and hope like hell for a split when it matters. The young jock has shown that he can spot a seam and send one home in the couple of hundred Group Ones that he has knocked up over the years. Others are more likely but 20/1 appeals. 

The situation isn't entirely dissimilar for our best bet which comes up in the second on the card, the Autumn Stakes. 

There is plenty of promise engaged but, when it come to performance, there is one with a big edge in Coastwatch.

He's first up, and so it may be optimistic to forecast him producing his very best rating here, but he's got several figures fit for purpose and his Golden Rose run really does pack some punch against horses that have shaped well in maidens and class ones. 

Decent Raine is useful, up and running, and will likely be in front of Coastwatch in the run; so there is something there to like about her chance, but on balance we'd make Coastwatch favourite. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 2 #1 Coastwatch @ $4.50

Each Way Play: Race 8 #2 Cascadian @ $21.00