- Caulfield Cup is precursor race to the Melbourne Cup
- Big chance for local and overseas stayers to impress
- Jockey claimed victory in a major display of triumph over adversity
Duke De Sessa has won the $5million Caulfield Cup, the world’s richest 2400m turf handicap.
Ridden by Harry Coffey and trained by Ciaron Maher, Duke De Sessa held off a late challenge from pre-race favourite Buckaroo.
It was a huge tale of triumph for Coffey, celebrating his 29th birthday, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was six weeks old and is now a Caulfield Cup winner.
‘How am I feeling? Spectacular,’ Coffey said after the race.
‘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.
‘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.’
Harry Coffey secured his second Caulfield Cup victory aboard Duke De Sessa
It was Maher’s second Caulfield Cup victory, eight years after his star mare Jameka won.
It also means Ciaron Maher becomes the first trainer to win the Everest and Caulfield Cup on the same day after Bella Nipotina saluted in the richest race on turf.
‘He had the right form going in. He had four 2000m runs and going into the mile-and-a-half, he loves a bit of cut in the track,’ Maher said.
‘And how good Harry Coffey? Harry, I was talking to him there after his last run and he said he gets excited, he likes losing weight when he’s got a chance.
‘Fair play to him. He rode him confidently, he rode him well. It was a pretty easy watch.’
Third home was Land Legend, who was unable to go with Duke De Sessa when Coffey let rip at the 600m mark.
There was drama before the race when Warmonger broke through the gates and delayed the start.
