McDonald masterclass gets Durston home in Wyong Gold Cup

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Durston wins at Caulfield

A masterful ride has given his eighth Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) as Durston raced away with the $200,000 prize.

The seven-year-old by Sea The Moon couldn't beat a runner home last start at in the Premier's Cup (2000m) when leading, but McDonald rode the well-supported stayer more conservatively in Friday's Listed event before presenting him to the middle of the track on the turn.

Waller trained the first four horses home in the race, but it was the -153.85 favourite, Lord Ardmore, who missed out on a finish after leading.

Yiyi closed off well into second, while finished off the race strongly to run third, nosing out aboard the odds-on favourite.

“He's a good horse, he's just been racing a bit fiercely in his first few starts for us, but I think the ultimate gear change was putting a Norton Bit on – it's a bit more of an aggressive bit and it did it's job today,” stable representative Damien Fitton told Sky.

“It was a great ride by James. He just went back to the rear of the field and let him switch off, he (Durston) dropped his head for the first time today since we've had him and that told the tale in the finish.

“He was able to conserve some energy and that was the winning move making the run when he did.

“He was too good on the day and it's onwards and upwards for him.”

Following his easy win in the Wyong Gold Cup, Durston firmed into +1000 for (2400m), while he halved his quote to +5000 in the (3200m).


In-form mare Meg took out the first Listed event at Wyong on Friday afternoon, swooping down the middle of the track to grab the heavily backed Katalin right on the line in the Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m).

The -trained mare was an impressive winner last start at Randwick in Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 company when a +4000 chance, and the market overlooked her once again as she claimed Friday's race as a +3000 hope with Bovada.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the five-year-old was given an inch-perfect steer from barrier 14, with the track pattern favouring the fast-finishing daughter of Sebring.

“Wide with momentum looked to be the key, and as the day went on, I thought the wide barrier looked an not a disadvantage,” Dale told Sky Racing.

“Hughie was confident. He was really happy with her win the other day – he was watching on replay – and he went out there with confidence.

“I effectively thought if she ran second or third, she'd have run out of her skin, but to get up and grab the win right on the line was very rewarding.”

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