FLEMINGTON trainer Danny O’Brien grabbed the quinella in a sensational Caulfield Cup when Master O’Reilly wore down stablemate Douro Valley to record a gritty victory.
But the $2.5 million race became an anti-climax after high drama at the barriers before the field jumped away.
Maldivian, the $2.40 favourite, went to the barriers the shortest-priced horse to contest a Caulfield Cup since Tobin Bronze, $1.70 favourite, was beaten into sixth behind Galilee in 1966.
But, to the horror of the 42,529-strong crowd, Queensland Oaks winner Eskimo Queen played up in barrier No.5, lay down and started thrashing about on the ground.
Maldivian then got stirred up in barrier No.1 and appeared to try to barge through the front of the gates, suffering a gash to the top of his neck.
Both Eskimo Queen and Maldivian were inspected by veterinary stewards and both were ruled unfit to start.
Maldivian returned to the mounting yard with blood streaming from the cut, and later had to have 10 stitches inserted in the wound.
Devastated trainer Mark Kavanagh didn’t even watch the race as he cared for the Zabeel five-year-old gelding in the birdcage.
"I noticed blood on (jockey Michael Rodd’s) silks and I didn’t like it," Kavanagh said.
"He sustained a cut just behind his offside ear. It’s been stitched up and is not career threatening, but at this stage he’s out for the spring.
"Racing is a cruel game.
"The last few weeks have been pretty good but this is a tough one to swallow.
"Racing is very ruthless, I can tell you."
Kavanagh had previously been enjoying a terrific spring, with Group I wins from Devil Moon in the Turnbull Stakes, Maldivian in the Yalumba Stakes and Divine Madonna in the Toorak Handicap.
Devil Moon and Divine Madonna will run in the W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next weekend.
With the field reduced to 16, substitute favourite Master O’Reilly, ridden by Vlad Duric, was strongest at the post, scoring by 2¼ lengths from Douro Valley with New Zealand mare Princess Coup third.
"This is a dream come true," O’Brien said after becoming the first trainer to land the Caulfield Cup quinella since the late Geoff Murphy achieved the feat when Gurner’s Lane defeated stablemate Gala Mascot in 1982.
"’(Owner) Bill Sutcliffe put his faith in us and we are delighted to have rewarded him."
O’Brien, 37, has progressed quickly to be one of Victoria’s leading trainers.
Flemington-based, he is currently fourth with 12 winners on the Melbourne trainers’ premiership table behind Lee Freedman, David Hayes and Peter Moody.
Master O’Reilly, a five year old by O’Reilly, is also part-owned by the gelding’s original trainer, Judy Mawer, who is based at Cranbourne.
O’Brien was very pleased with winning jockey Duric and Douro Valley’s rider, James Winks.
"They both covered themselves in glory," he said.
O’Brien said what happened to his mate Kavanagh was "soul destroying".
His horses used to stay at Kavanagh’s stables at Morphettville when they went to Adelaide to race, and vice versa.
For Duric, who turned 30 last month, the victory marked his second Group I success after claiming his first on Bon Hoffa in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last month.
"It’s bloody awesome," Duric said.
"`I reckon I gave him a 10-out-of-10 ride. I followed Douro Valley."
Duric said Sutcliffe had eased the pressure on him before the race.
"He said ‘just go out and do what you do’," he said.
"I said 12 months ago I thought he could win a Melbourne Cup, and I still think he can."
Imported galloper Blue Monday was fourth while last year’s winner, Tawqeet, was fifth.
English stayer Purple Moon ran into a dead end in the straight, and did a good job to finish sixth, doing his Melbourne Cup prospects no harm.
AAP
Source: foxsports.com.au
