The Chris Waller-trained Durston has won the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on a firming Melbourne track after getting the late call-up as the first emergency to replace Maximal in the 145th edition of the mile and a half classic.
First emergency Durston was excellent late winning the 2022 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne for the Waller stable. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Durston, a lightly-raced import, got the green light to line-up in the 2022 Caulfield Cup field on Saturday morning with Michael Dee picking up the ride on the eventual upset champion.
Dee gave the seven-year-old, winner of the Wyong Gold Cup – Newcastle Gold Cup double in September, a 10/10 ride coming at the right time on the straight to run over the top of his rivals late.
“It was absolutely unreal,” Waller’s stable rep Jo Taylor told Racing.com.
“He’s been in such a rich vein of form and to see him get this is just a fantastic result for everyone.
“Chris has proven that he’s an absolute master.”
Knights Order set only a moderate tempo in the lead, the Sydney Cup winner from the Waterhouse/Bott stable looking to go all-the-way.
He was challenged inside the final furlong by the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained top-weight Gold Trip, who got to the front carrying 57.5kg before Dee came with the big finish on Durston who had just 51.5kg on his back.
The light weight proved the advantage and Durston ($18) hit the line a neck ahead of Gold Trip ($16), while the front-running Knights Order ($16) was brave holding for third to complete the Caulfield Cup trifecta.
“The winning line was coming and it almost looked like he wouldn’t get there,” Taylor said.
“Mickey Dee did a fantastic job to get him over the line.”
Durston became the first ever emergency to win the Caulfield Cup and handed Waller with a second success following the 2020 victory of Verry Elleegant.
Also eye-catching making up late ground to run a strong fourth was David Payne‘s multiple Group 1 winning mare Montefilia ($18) in a good Melbourne Cup trial.
The Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) is the second leg of the coveted Spring Cups double.
Eleven horses throughout history have done the double in the same year, but none since Ethereal in 2001.
Durston has firmed in from $41 to $15 in futures Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes to be the next with success in the two mile event at Flemington on Tuesday the 1st of November.
2022 Caulfield Cup Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19e | DURSTON (GB) | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 6 | 51.5kg | 1.5kg | $18 | ||
| 2 | 1 | GOLD TRIP (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 0.2L | 11 | 57.5kg | $16 | ||
| 3 | 3 | KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 0.95L | 17 | 55.5kg | $16 | ||
| 4 | 4 | MONTEFILIA | David Payne | Jason Collett | 1.05L | 15 | 55.5kg | $18 | ||
| 5 | 5 | NUMERIAN (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Tommy Berry | 1.15L | 9 | 55.5kg | $12 | ||
| 6 | 7 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 1.9L | 16 | 54kg (cd 54.5kg) | $20 | ||
| 7 | 17 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ms Jamie Kah | 2.3L | 5 | 51.5kg | 1.5kg | $3.90F | |
| 8 | 2 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Joshua Parr | 2.5L | 8 | 55.5kg | $17 | ||
| 9 | 14 | SOUND (GER) | Michael Moroney | Blaike McDougall | 2.7L | 4 | 53kg | $151 | ||
| 10 | 6 | NONCONFORMIST | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 2.8L | 14 | 54.5kg | $12 | ||
| 11 | 12 | INSPIRATIONAL GIRL (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Jye McNeil | 3.55L | 1 | 53kg | $12 | ||
| 12 | 15 | CHAPADA | Michael Moroney | Daniel Stackhouse | 4.05L | 10 | 52.5kg | $41 | ||
| 13 | 18 | TRALEE ROSE (NZ) | Symon Wilde | Dean Yendall | 4.15L | 7 | 51.5kg | $51 | ||
| 14 | 16 | CRYSTAL PEGASUS (GB) | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton | 6.15L | 2 | 52kg | $101 | ||
| 15 | 9 | ALEGRON | James Cummings | Ethan Brown | 6.55L | 13 | 53kg | $10 | ||
| 16 | 10 | BENAUD | John O’Shea | Regan Bayliss | 6.65L | 18 | 53kg | $11 | ||
| 17 | 11 | GREAT HOUSE (IRE) | Chris Waller | Brett Prebble | 7.15L | 3 | 53kg | $31 | ||
| 18 | 8 | NO COMPROMISE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | 9.65L | 12 | 53.5kg | 1.0kg | $21 | |
| 20e | MAKRAM (IRE) | Ben & JD Hayes | 0 | |||||||
| 13 | MAXIMAL (GB) | John O’Shea | Ben Melham | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
