Six-year-old gelding Duke De Sessa has won the $5 million Caulfield Cup, the world’s richest 2400m turf handicap.
Ridden by Harry Coffey and trained by Ciaron Maher, Duke De Sessa was let go at the 600m mark on Saturday and hung on for a brilliant win.
The son of Lope de Vaga held off a late challenge from pre-race favourite Buckaroo to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Land Legend was third home, unable to stay with Duke De Sessa when Coffey hit the button.
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Coffey, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six weeks old, celebrated his 29th birthday with his first Caulfield Cup victory.
“I just couldn’t believe it that he kept running and the Caulfield Cup was going to have Harry Coffey’s name next to it,” Coffey said.
“It’s just phenomenal. It’s not supposed to happen to people like myself.
“I’m considered a battler and people like to laugh about how I’m a battler and a country boy, but not many Caulfield Cups get won by country boys.
Harry Coffey after riding Duke De Sessa to win Race 9, the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup – Betting Odds during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on October 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
“I couldn’t pull the horse up, to be honest. I just let him roll and me and him just had a little moment … I actually can’t tell you the love and the happiness for how well this horse ran today.”
It was Maher’s second Caulfield Cup victory, eight years after his star mare Jameka won, and came little more than an hour after the master trainer tasted success in The Everest with Bella Nipotina.
Maher said Duke De Sessa appreciated the soft 6 track at Caulfield, and paid tribute to Coffey for wasting to make his light 52kg handicap.
“The horse had the right form going in. He had four 2000 metre runs, and going to the mile and a half, and he loves a bit of cut in the track, it worked out,” he told Channel 7.
“How good Harry Coffey? I was talking to him after the horse’s last run. He said he likes losing weight when he’s got a chance.
“Fair play to him. He rode him confidently and he rode him well, and it was a pretty easy watch.
“He’s a lovely horse he had a lot of ability. He was just a bit aggressive as a colt. He was gelded and he’s just come back a nicer horse. The team has done a great job.
“He’s got a bit of cut in the track his last couple of runs which really helped him, and today for his grand final, spot on.”
There was drama before the race when Warmonger broke through the gates and delayed the start.
© AAP