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.
Durston and Micky Dee win the Caulfield Cup (image Grant Courtney)
Ridden by Michael Dee for Chris Waller, Durston (GB) only gained a start due to the late scratching of Maximal due to a heavy track.
Making the most of a 6kg pull in the weights, the 6yo son of Sea The Moon (GER), defeated Gold Trip (FR) by a short-neck with three-quarter of a length back to Knights Order (IRE) (So You Think).
The winner of the Listed Wyong Cup and Group III Newcastle Cup, Durston finished a close-up sixth in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick at his most recent start.
Carrying the colours of Highclere Thoroughbreds, Durston advances his record to six wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $3,637,438.
“I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s unbelievable,” Dee said.
“I’ve just got to thank Chris Waller and his team and the horse, Durston. We only gained a run this morning.
“We had a good draw and I just dropped straight down to the fence and got him into a rhythm. He does tend to get on the bridle quite strongly and just had to sit against him the whole way.
“At the half-mile I was tossing up whether I go in or whether I go out but sort of more or less edge slightly and we were eventually able to get into the clear and it was strong late.”
Chris Waller was at Randwick where he had just witnessed stable star Nature Strip beaten into fourth place in The Everest.
“The highs and lows of racing,” he mused.
“Nature Strip was great only minutes ago, but we were deflated but wow what an amazing win in the Caulfield Cup.
“Durston, he’s a really decent horse. He looked like he needed a bit of luck getting out and he did get out so a great ride from Michael.
“He was strong the last 50 metres, so not just today it is exciting heading towards the Melbourne Cup.”
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.
