Kerrin McEvoy believes the form of his Caulfield mount Kirklees will stack up at least as well as it did for his Godolphin stablemate All The Good when he took out the $2.5 million feature last year.While All The Good scored a surprise win at $41 a year ago, Kirklees is equal favourite at $8 with the other international horse in the race, the Luca Cumani-trained Cima De Triomphe.Both horses go into the race as the first European Group One winners to contest a Caulfield Cup.McEvoy rated Kirklees

Kerrin McEvoy believes the form of his Caulfield mount Kirklees will stack up at least as well as it did for his Godolphin stablemate All The Good when he took out the $2.5 million feature last year.

While All The Good scored a surprise win at $41 a year ago, Kirklees is equal favourite at $8 with the other international horse in the race, the Luca Cumani-trained Cima De Triomphe.

Both horses go into the race as the first European Group One winners to contest a Caulfield Cup.

McEvoy rated Kirklees as "quite similar" ability-wise to last year's winner All The Good.

"Godolphin didn't have All The Good for that many runs before he came to Australia, while this horse (Kirklees) probably has a touch better form," he said.

"Even though he hasn't won a race like the Ebor, he's still won some nice Group races over there.

"He's got to carry 56 kilograms but he drops a lot in weight compared to his wins in the UK so that's always a positive.

"So it's probably fair to say he might show better form than All The Good last year."

Kirklees, a six-year-old entire by Jade Robbery, won a 2000m handicap in Dubai by 3-1/4 lengths.

The third horse in that race, 6-1/4 lengths away, was last year's Caulfield Cup placegetter Barbaricus, prepared by Danny O'Brien.

Kirklees has been in brilliant form in the UK winning his last three starts, the Listed Gala Stakes (2018m) at Sandown on July 3, Group Two York Stakes (2092m) on July 25 and Group Three September Stakes (2414m) at Kempton September 5.

"There have been good form lines through those races in the UK so he's a progressive horse having had one start at 2400 metres and a win under his belt," McEvoy said.

"In all he has won four races this season, three in England and one in Dubai, so he's arrived in good form and he's arrived out here fit and well.

McEvoy said he would phone Godolphin's number one jockey Frankie Dettori before the race to ask him about any idiosyncrasies Kirklees may have.

Dettori wanted to come to Australia to ride the horse but was required to ride Godolphin runners at the Champion Stakes meeting at Newmarket on Saturday.

"He'll be able to fill me in on any little quirks the horse has but, just looking at the videos, he looks very straightforward to ride and he gave me that feel at Sandown when I rode him the other morning," McEvoy said.

"He was quite relaxed and laid back and I'm sure he's going to be a nice ride for me in the Caulfield Cup."

"The majority of his wins have been sitting handy to the pace. Frankie did ride him a little bit quieter over a mile-and-a-half in his last win at Kempton.

"He sat back a little bit, admittedly that was only a small field but for an English stayer he is a horse that can begin quickly and take up a forward spot and hopefully he does on Saturday as well."

Godolphin representative Diana Cooper is due to fly in to Melbourne on Friday for the Caulfield Cup, just as she did last year before All The Good's victory.

On the second line of betting with TAB Sportsbet are Predatory Pricer and Daffoldil at $9 ahead of Vigor at $10 with Allez Wonder and Viewed at $13.