Durston has become the first emergency ever to win the Caulfield Cup, after only being added to the field late on when John O’Shea withdrew Maximal from the race due to a rain-affected track.
The Chris Waller-trained runner subsequently took up the starting position from barrier six and romped home against the odds, claiming a fairy-tale victory in the Group one race.
Caulfield is mostly known as a leaders’ course, and it was the Sydney Cup winner Knights Order which set the pace from the off. However, Durston and Gold Trip made their charges late to claim the top two spots.
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In glorious sunshine, which was in stark contrast to the terrible weather of the past few days in Victoria, Durston emerged from the pack to claim a massive upset, narrowly pipping Gold Trip to the post.
The French expat held the lead heading inside the final furlong but couldn’t hold off Durston, as it claimed a third victory in the last four races.
Have a look at the path Micky Dee & Durston had to take in the Caulfield Cup 😲
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Durston’s win handed the Waller stable its second Caulfield Cup in three years, with Verry Elleegant claiming the prestigious event back in 2020. It also gave jockey Micky Dee his sixth win in a G1 race.
Earlier in the day, Mr Maestro claimed a third straight-victory during the Caulfield Classic, while Renaissance Woman won the Ethereal Stakes and Asfoora won the Caulfield Sprint.
It was also a good day for trainer Joshua Parr with A Very Fine Red bringing up a Caulfield double by outlasting Shalstar by a fraction in the Alinghi Stakes.
Elsewhere, it proved to be a day of upsets when Giga Kick shocked the horse racing world by beating the heavily fancied Nature Strip in The Everest to claim Australia’s most lucrative race.
MORE: Huge upset in The Everest as Nature Strip is beaten by Giga Kick
Jockey Craig Williams produced an incredible ride to storm home with the three-year-old which outlasted not only Nature Strip but also Private Eye and Mazu.
