With just one of six opponents behind Durston (GB) on the home turn, James McDonald was gifted a run in the favoured ground along the fence to turn the $250,000 Group III Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) into a rout.
Durston was low flying in the Group III Newcastle Gold Cup - image Steve Hart
A fifth winner of the race in the last eight years for Chris Waller, the 7yo son of Sea The Moon defeated the pacesetting Carif (So You Think) by three and a half lengths with Arapaho (FR) (Lope De Vega) a nose back in third.
It was a first win in the race for McDonald, who rode Durston (GB) to a dominant victory in the Listed Wyong Cup at his most recent start.
"He is a progressive horse, and I may have locked in too early," McDonald said about his decision to ride the German-trained Loft in the Melbourne Cup.
"He's a really nice horse and put the writing on the wall at Wyong. He was glowing at his work on Tuesday.
"I was excited to ride him today because I thought he would be hard to beat.
"He has a great turn of foot. Barrier one is sometimes a blessing as you don't have too many options and take what's in front of you."
Durston and very happy strapper Jasmine Haynes - image Steve Hart
Carrying the colours of Highclere Thoroughbreds, Durston advances his record to five two two from 14 starts with earnings of $479,938.
Bred by Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud, Durston (GB) was a 52,000gns purchase for Blandford Bloodstock from the Staffordstown draft at the 2017 October Yearling Sale.
The son of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon (Sea The Stars) and the Hernando mare Caribana is a half-brother to the Group III St Simon Stakes and Group III John Porter Stakes winner Cubanita.
The daughter of Selkirk was runner-up in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and was honoured as the Champion Older Mare in Germany in 2014.
