HIGHCLERE Thoroughbred Racing, the syndicate run by Harry Herbert, recorded a major success in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup with Durston. The six-year-old old Sea The Moon gelding was bred by Kirsten Rausing and was a high-class staying handicapper for trainer David Simcock in 2019 before being transferred to Australia in 2021.

Now trained by Chris Waller, Durston won a listed race at Wyong and the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup last month, but still only got into the Aus$5 million Caulfield Cup as a reserve. Ridden by Michael Dee and carrying the equal minimum weight of 51.5kgs in the 12-furlong race, Durston settled towards the back on the rail.

As the race began to open up inside the final 800 metres, Dee followed the gaps to have his charge into clear galloping at the 200-metre mark.

The top-weight Gold Trip was looking the winner as he got the better of Numerian and Knights Order on his inside, though Durston, to his outside, was finishing too strongly, getting home by a head. The Outstrip horse Gold Trip held second as the So You Think gelding Knights Order finished third.

“We had a good draw and I just dropped straight down to the fence and got him into a rhythm,” said an elated Dee after the race.

“He does tend to get on the bridle quite strongly and just had to sit against him the whole way. I just had to get him into the best rhythm as possible and they went much, much slower than I anticipated but I was rapt when the tempo came into it down the side, which is generally the case in a Caulfield Cup, so I just had to try and let everyone make their move first and be the last one to pounce.”

The win was a second in the race for Chris Waller following Verry Elleegant in 2020.

Watching from Randwick, Waller said: “We were deflated (after Nature Strip’s defeat in The Everest an hour earlier) but, wow, what an amazing win there. A Caulfield Cup, it’s a big deal, and Durston, he’s a really decent horse.

“He looked like he needed a bit of luck getting out and he did get out, a great ride from Michael. He was strong the last 50 metres, so not just today, it is exciting heading towards the Melbourne Cup.” Durston was subsequently penalised 2kg for his win and will carry 53.5kg in the Melbourne Cup as he attempts to become the 12th horse to complete the Cups double.

Taking the ride will be Damien Oliver, 20 years since he saluted on Media Puzzle. Michael Dee stays with his earlier commitment to Lunar Flare in the Melbourne Cup.