Only when Maximal was scrapped Saturday morning did Durston get a start, but he’s done the unthinkable and won the Caulfield Cup.
It’s the first time in its history an emergency has won the $5 million race.
All eyes were old Gold Trip for the final few hundred metres, before Durston surged late to win by half a length. Knights Order was third.
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Having earlier missed out on an Everest win with Nature Strip, Durston gives Chris Waller his second Caulfield Cup.
Watching on from Randwick in Sydney, Waller said he and his staff were left feeling deflated after Nature Strip’s shock loss only an hour before.
“We were deflated, but wow what an amazing win there,” he told Emma Freedman for Seven.
“The Caulfield Cup is a big deal, and Durston is a really decent horse.
“He looked like he needed a bit of luck getting out and he did get out, great ride from (jockey Michael Dee).
“He was strong the last 50m … it’s exciting heading towards a Melbourne Cup.”
Dee said it was an unbelievable result.
”We only got in in the morning so that was great. In the run he travelled on the bridle,” he said.
“At the half mile I was wondering whether to go in or out. When I got into the clear he was strong late.”
A crowd favourite, Benaud – a nod to the late cricketing great and commentator Richie – spent the race towards the back of the field and never made a run.
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