Walk in The Park for Durston (GB) in Newcastle Gold Cup

Mark Smith - Friday September 16

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.

&quo

Advertisement
t;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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sharp Office N'castle Gold Cup Gr3 2300m

Newcastle Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:26.72
1
Durston
- 7g Sea The Moon (GER) x Caribana (GB) (Hernando (FR))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
2
3.5
Carif
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 54
So You Think
MM National Broodmare Sale $240,000
Seller: Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: China Horse Club
3
3.6
Arapaho
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 59
4
6.5
Sacramento
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Alzora (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
5
7.6
Mankayan
- 7g Intello (GER) x Angelic Note (IRE) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 59
6
8.2
Born A King
- 6g Frankel (GB) x Fairwater (USA) (Empire Maker (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
7
9.9
Yiyi
- 5g No Nay Never (USA) x Memories Of You (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 54
More Reading...
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Sea The Moon's Durston Leads Home a 1-2-3-4 finish for Chris Waller in Wyong Cup
Chris Waller saddled up five of the eight starters in Friday’s $200,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Cup (2100m) and with a 1-2-3-4 finish, the champion trainer claimed the feature for the eighth time in the last eleven years.
Caulfield Cup Winner Durston Retired
Highclere Racing Australia have today announced the retirement of high class stayer Durston (GB), who has not raced since winning the 2022 Group I MRC Caulfield Cup.
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
Dramatic Win By Durston in Caulfield Cup
Durston (GB) made the most of a late call up for the $5,000,000 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) when edging out the top-weight Gold Trip (FR) in a dramatic finish.
Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup
A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.