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| Editor: Elliot Dean | | Writer: Marcus Walta | | Writer: Janet Bastow | | Photographer: Matthew Smith | |
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Masterful Display Wins Caulfield Cup |
Masterful Display Wins Caulfield Cup
By Elliot Dean
It was a big day out for trainer Danny O'Brien on Saturday, training the Caulfield Cup quinella with his star horses Master O'Reilly and Duoro Valley. But the even bigger story of the day was the last minute scratching of short priced favourite Maldivian and second favourite Eskimo Queen, in the barriers.
Just before the race, an announcement was made that Eskimo Queen had sat down in the stalls. But it wasn't until Maldivian returned to the mounting yard with blood streaming down it's neck that the large crowd knew that something major wasn't right. Maldivian became quite fractious in Barrier 1 from all the commotion hit its head on the gate, causing a large gash. Both runners were scratched, creating a deadly silence across the Caulfield crowd, which didn't leave until the race was a few seconds in.
Master O'Reilly proved far too good in the final running, running down stablemate Duoro Valley in the final 200 metres, and launching it into outright favouritism for the Melbourne Cup in 2 weeks time. New Zealand mare Princess Coup put in the performance of her lifetime to finish third, with English stayer Purple Moon finishing an eye catching sixth. His late charge home after major interference at the top of the straight was very impressive, and puts him well in the Melbourne Cup market also.
In the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes, Pillar of Hercules won strongly, giving trainer Peter Moody the tough decision whether to pay the $110,000 late entry fee and run him in the Victoria Derby. Vandaloo proved too good in the Winning Edge Presentations Cup, while other winners on the day included Miss Fantabulous (upsetting the short priced favourite Vormista in the Harrolds Stakes), Tesbury Jack, Lord of the Dance, and Fire In The Night.
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