Duke De Sessa gets it right on the day in Caulfield Cup
Ciaron Maher’s day would go on to get even better when the ultra-consistent Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega) finally got his day in the limelight when making all for an incredible success in the Caulfield Cup.
Imported from Ireland last year, the six-year-old gelding had made 12 starts in Australia prior to Saturday’s feature contest, with his best efforts coming when third in both the Zipping Classic (Gr 2, 2400m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m) in 2023, and fourth on his most recent two outings in the Underwood Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) and Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
Sent off an $11 chance with Harry Coffey in the saddle for the first time at a weight of 52 kilograms, the son of Lope De Vega (Shamardal) jumped quickly from barrier five and was sent to the lead by his young jockey.
Still leading the 18-runner field approaching the home bend, Coffey and Duke De Sessa kicked clear coming down the home straight and, with still over four lengths in hand inside the final 200 metres, could not be caught by the fast-finishing favourite Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock) to gain victory by 1.3 lengths at the line.
There was a further five lengths back to the third-placed Land Legend (Galileo) as Chris Waller filled the second and third spots, while the James Cummings-trained Zardozi (Kingman) finished a further 2.2 lengths back in fourth place.
With Maher at Randwick to witness Bella Nipotina’s stunning win in The Everest earlier in the afternoon, stable assistant Jack Turnbull was on hand at Caulfield.
“It’s magic to be honest, just fantastic to get on the phone with him [Ciaron], especially after Bella [Nipotina],” Turnbull said.
“Very good ride by Harry [Coffey]. Everyone’s so thankful for Harry, and really appreciative of him. Everyone knows how well-deserved it is. It’s just amazing.
“Last season, he [Duke De Sessa] was a colt, and he had a good think about it, and he used to over-travel. This race we put a Norton bit on. He obviously had 12 months of seasoning and conditioning, and Ciaron and the team just had a better handle on him.
“So the form is around him with Via Sistina, and it’s just amazing. Just very appreciative and well done to Maurice Regan, Col McKenna’s in the horse. It’s amazing, and it’s fantastic for the stable.”
It was the second win in the time-honoured Group 1 for Maher, having landed it for the first time in 2016 with Jameka (Myboycharlie), who was also co-owned by the McKennas.
Bred by Newtown Anner Stud, Duke De Sessa is raced by multiple owners including Maurice Regan, Col McKenna, and Halo Racing.
The win provided jockey Coffey with the perfect birthday present.
“I don’t know how to describe this. How am I feeling? Spectacular,” a delighted Coffey said.
“When I let rip, I thought maybe I’d gone too early. But one thing you can count on with Ciaron Maher and this amazing team he has, you can back your horses in. They’ll just keep running.
“I just couldn’t believe that he kept running. And that the Caulfield Cup was going to have Harry Coffey’s name next to it. Like, it’s just phenomenal.
“It’s not supposed to happen to people like myself. I’m just, I’m considered a battler. People like to laugh about how I’m a battler and a country boy. But, yeah, not many Caulfield Cups get won by country boys.
“My dad wanted to come with me today, but I told him not to worry about it, and I’ ll handle it without him. And he actually nearly caught the train this morning and was going to drive me home tonight and I said to him, ‘nah, I might have a beer tonight.’ So it all worked out how I thought. But, sorry Dad, that I told you not to come.”
Duke De Sessa (6 g Lope De Vega – Dark Crusader by Cape Cross), who landed a pair of Group 3s and a Listed contest when trained by Dermot Weld in Ireland, is the best of two winners from four to race out of the Group 3-placed Cape Cross (Green Desert) mare Dark Crusader, herself a half-sister to stakes winner Naughty Or Nice (Fastnet Rock).
In winning Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, the gelding became the 24th individual Group 1 winner for Ballylinch Stud’s Lope De Vega, who shuttled to Australia for four seasons between 2011-2014.